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How To Gain The Maximum From Your Italian Vacation

Posted by admin on March 9, 2010  |  No Comments

The majority of prospective visitors to Italy are unprepared for their holiday, missing an opportunity to exploit their time in this wonderful country. They plan to spend most of their time in the principal cities such as Rome, Milan or Venice and fail to discover the real Italy. These cities are similar to most worldly cities in that the people who live there are generally exploitative, paying the price for having to live in crowded and expensive accommodation. I concede that such cities have some wonderful historical sights but would strongly encourage visitors to sample the real Italy, and return with rich and evocative memories of a great holiday.

To where do I refer? Where is this utopia, away from the madding crowds of the Italian conurbations? The answer is virtually everywhere else in the Italian countryside, but particularly in the southern end of the country. I specialize in writing a travel guide to the Abruzzo and Le Marche regions, but you could go almost anywhere. Even overpriced Tuscany has some wonderful towns and villages where you will meet Italians who are interested in giving you excellent service at a reasonable price.

There are several ways to get to Le Marche and Abruzzo; probably the most convenient is by car or motorbike. Public transport in Italy is relatively cheap and another possibility is to finish your city excursion and go by train or coach to these hidden regions, returning to your city airport by the same means at the end of your holiday. Some of the regional railway lines traverse stunning countryside (any journey crossing the spine of Italy is extremely memorable and striking), making it an event in itself. Of course, a train or bus journey in the Italian regions in another excuse to discover the most important resource of Italy - the people.

Visitors to a country in which the language is different to their own should always have a few words of communication ready; the essential polite words and a few stock phrases. While this is not so necessary in the Italian cities, you will need these words in rural Italy. Do not be daunted by the prospect of learning a new language; you simply need to remember a few words and have a phrase book handy. The important difference is that Italians, unlike many other nationalities, will be delighted at your attempts (no matter how bad) to communicate in their language and will encourage and gently assist you in every way possible.

Dr Peter J D Scott is a musicologist by profession. He writes two travel guide in his spare time; the Dublin guide contains hundreds of unique pages of tips, advice and pictures:
hidden-italy.com hidden-italy.com

hidden-dublin.com hidden-dublin.com

Can You Survive Maui’s Wild, Winding, Wonderful “Road to Hana”?

Posted by admin on March 9, 2010  |  No Comments

Considered one of the nation’s most scenic highways, and one of Maui’s major tourist attractions, the Hana Highway was designated a National Millennium Legacy Trail in 1999 and much of the roadway was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

This notoriously narrow, winding coastal road offers a thrill for visitors with panoramic views, 600 hairpin turns and 54 one-lane, historic bridges and was carved by hand using pickaxes and man power. The mud-and-gravel road was often subject to landslides and washouts, hence the saying “I survived the Road
to Hana”. The road was eventually paved in 1962, when tourist traffic began to increase. Today more than 1,000 cars traverse the road daily; that equals about 500,000 people a year on this road!

Relatively isolated from the development on most of Maui, Hana, and the “long & winding road” that lead there offers picturesque views, bamboo forests, rugged coastline and hidden waterfalls that many only
dream of. Be sure to allow time to stop and explore along the way or you’ll miss the very best of Maui; stay overnight, if time allows.

For most, Paia is considered the “starting point of your journey. Once a thriving sugar-mill town, the historic buildings play host to a variety of restaurants, trendy shops and family owned business. Be sure
to gas up; there isn’t another gas station until Hana!
Beaches & Parks

About five miles from Paia, is Ho’okipa Beach. This busy beach park is an international windsurfing mecca lures extreme sports enthusiasts, surfers and windsurfers from around the globe. During winter months, keep your eyes open for the Humpback Whales and the occasional Hawaiian Monk Seal. Spinner Dolphins and Green Sea Turtles frequent the reef areas of this beach all year long.

Waianapanapa State Park is a 120-acre park on an ancient a’a lava flow, offering sea cliffs, lava tubes, arches, caves and hiking trails. The jet-black sand of the beach is stunning with bright-green jungle foliage on three sides and cobalt-blue water lapping at its feet, making this a must.

Hamoa Beach is a white crescent-shaped beach that James Michener referred to as “the most perfect beach in the Pacific.” Located a few minutes South of Hana Town, this beach offers body-surfing, swimming, and snorkeling.

Kokee Beach is just a few minutes from Hamoa and is a spectacular beach for surfing, body surfing and sun bathing. This is also a perfect place to collect seashells.

Finally, Oheo Gulch or Kipahulu, is the wet-side of Haleakala. Often referred to as Seven Sacred Pools, this National Park provides over 100 fresh water pools and the spectacular, cascading waterfalls of Oheo Stream. Thousands of acres of bamboo forests, tropical vegetation and fruit scented jungles provide the perfect location or hiking, swimming and exploring the tropical beauty of Hana.
Guided Tours & Sightseeing

Unfortunately, the driver is the one who misses out on the Hana Highway! Keeping an eye on the road and watching out for other drivers often means missing out on the sights. Personal experience taught me that there are times when a guide is the best way to learn the most in a short time.

There are a number of land-based tours that allow you to relax and enjoy the ride. Maui (often Hana) residents with a wealth of knowledge will enable you to make the most of your day as they share knowledge of the history, geography and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. These guides are also the best people to show you the out of the way places you may not find in the average tour guide.

For the ultimate in sightseeing, splurge on one of many helicopter flights from Kahului. Local guides show you the sights without the traffic. Many tour operators offer a variety of flight times and pricing options, making this possible on almost any budget. There are even combination tours that will allow you to ride to Hana and fly back, taking in the vast Haleakala Crater along the way!

Remember to “live aloha” while enjoying your journey and forget your mainland road rules. Yield at the one-lane bridges, wave to oncoming motorists, and pull over to let the local traffic pass; remember, some folks are not on vacation! Relax and “hang loose” to experience a true taste of paradise.

Top Hana Visitor Attractions

Hana Cave Quest

Wainapanapa State Park

Kipahulu National Park//Haleakala

Resources:

hawaiiactive.com/html/maui.html hawaiiactive.com/html/maui.html

hawaii.gov hawaii.gov

Kenya - The Land Where Safari Was Born

Posted by admin on March 9, 2010  |  No Comments

As a child, Africa fascinated me - a land where the wild and exotic animals of storybooks and zoos roamed free on the plains. And where Kenya was always the quintessential home of the safari.

Many visits later I’m no less enthralled by this region of dramatic contrasts, and remarkable wildlife amid stunningly beautiful and varied landscapes that are still unencumbered by the trappings of man. And little compares to nights filled with the primal sounds of the bush - the hoots and laughs of hyenas, the grumble of distant lions and the snorts of a hippo.

Kenya, the land where safari was born, is also known as the cradle of mankind - evidence of some of the earliest human settlements has been found here, suggesting that it was the birthplace of humanity from which descendents moved out to populate the world. However, it’s the boundless wilderness and big game of this region that has long attracted adventure seekers from all over the globe. No other African country can boast such an incredible range of scenery, unique geographical features and species.

A safari in Kenya is an extraordinary holiday for any wildlife lover, no matter your budget or the level of adventure you’re looking for. There’s no end of things to explore; from the highlands of central Kenya to the great Rift valley; from the elephants of Amboseli wallowing in a small watering hole, to the vast shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest lake in the world; and from the spectacular views of Africa’s highest point, Mount Kilimanjaro, down to a coast of shimmering white sands along the Indian Ocean.

Soak up the wonders of nature while camping under the stars out in the bush, hundreds of miles away from civilization, or relax in luxury at one of the lodges scattered throughout the many game reserves and national parks of this magical country.

Whether you’re walking, driving, or even bobbing your way across the plains atop a camel, you’ll discover the scents, sounds, and footprints of the bush, as you enjoy the sight of a hyena at full gallop, weaving behind the adrenaline-powered run of a gazelle, or a mighty battle as buffalo bulls fight over territory.

If you venture on a Kenyan safari during July or August, perhaps the best way to check out the wildlife is by hot air balloon. Few places offer a better vantage point from which to witness the amazing phenomenon that is the annual wildebeest migration across the plains of the Maasai Mara, when millions of hooves thunder northwards in search of sweeter grazing during the drier months in the south.

The Maasai Mara Reserve, 200 sq miles of rolling hills, woods and acacia trees watered by the Mara and Talek rivers, opens onto the Serengeti plains of Tanzania. Home to the famously independent and traditional herdsmen, no trip to Kenya would be complete without a visit to Masai Mara. They regard themselves not just as residents of this area but as much a part of the life of the land, as the land is part of their lives.

A visit to Kenya is a veritable life-changing experience filled with an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, zebras, black rhino, lions, leopards and various antelope. One visit alone will be enough to make you understand Earnest Hemmingway’s words, “unknowable, unimaginable, unbelievable… and completely unforgettable.”

Lindsay Carswell is a passionate adventurer and explorer. Having lived on three continents she has currently settled in the world’s original cultural melting pot, New York City, where she works as a television producer and freelance writer. for more information on safaris to Kenya visit: magicglobe.com/kenya/safaris.asp Kenya Luxury Safaris

Visit: magicglobe.com/kenya/safaris.asp magicglobe.com/kenya/safaris.asp for more information.

Exploring Ontario in the Winter - Hello from Barrie: Lots of Winter Fun without Need for Mountains

Posted by admin on March 9, 2010  |  No Comments

Our winter getaway over the last two days was supposed to include a couple of different activities: snow-tubing and outdoor skating. Well, our outdoor skating fell through, due to the extraordinarily warm conditions, however, we had a beautiful day yesterday on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie, where we enjoyed some great outdoor time on frozen Lake Simcoe.

Today, after our delicious filling breakfast at Nicholyn Farms Bed and Breakfast, we headed off for another adventure: snowtubing at Horseshoe Valley. Unfortunately the weather today was even less cooperative: as the day progressed it went from freezing rain to rain to a veritable downpour as we drove back to Toronto.

Nevertheless the morning was cold enough for our snowtubing adventure. My 8-year old nephew had never been snowtubing before, and knowing his penchant for high-speed adrenaline-filled activities, we knew that he would fall in love with this sport.

Horseshoe Valley is one of several Ontario winter resorts and in addition to downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and skating, it also features a snow-tubing hill. It’s a thrill to get pulled up on the hill, sitting on a refunctioned inner tube, and then getting linked up in a group of 2, 3 or 4 snow-tubers, who hold on to their neighbouring tuber’s handle and then get pushed down the hill by one of the staff members - with a spin and a momentum that feels almost like a roller coaster!

Snowtubing is just one of the many fun winter activities that Ontario has to offer.
Snow Valley Resort just on the other side of Highway 400 also offers snowtubing.
Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood is another place for Ontario snowtubing enthusiasts.

Skating:

Obviously hockey is Canada’s national sport and skating runs in the veins of many residents of this northern country. Virtually all Ontario cities, towns and villages have outdoor skating rinks and indoor arenas. Outdoor skating is free in many cases, and indoor pleasure skating is generally a very inexpensive sport.

One of the best known skating Ontario opportunities exists in Ottawa, on the 7.8 km long Rideau Canal, the world’s longest skating rink according to the Guiness Book of Records. The City of Ottawa lists its public skating information on the Internet.

Toronto’s well-known outdoor skating venues include City Hall, Harbourfront and Grenadier Pond in HIgh Park and the City of Toronto provides a list of leisure skating opportunities in Toronto.

Skiing & snowboarding:

Although Ontario certainly doesn’t have the greatest vertical drop compared to international ski resorts, but it does offer 41 resorts for downhill skiers and snowboarders at the Ski Ontario website.

Cross-country skiing & snowshoeing:

Ontario’s more than 120 cross-country ski areas are rivalled only by Quebec for sheer number and variety. Ski areas are operated by various organizations ranging from parks to clubs and resorts. The Ski Ontario website provides an extensive listing of cross-country opportunities across Ontario.
Special offers for snowshoeing and cross-country getaways are featured on the Ontario Outdoor website.

Snowmobiling:
Ontario offers more than 43,000 km (26,000 mi.) of maintained, interconnected, uncongested trails. It is the longest network of recreational trails in the world. The 248 member clubs of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs build and maintain this extensive trail network. Find more information about snowmobiling in Ontario in the Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine.

Iceclimbing:
The north of Ontario is the heart of Ontario’s iceclimbing country and features ice-clad routes with heights of more than 90 m. Special ice-climbing getaways are featured on the Ontario Outdoor Website.

Dogsledding:
Dog sledding has evolved from a utilitarian form of transport in northern countries to a unique travel experience. Some dogsledding operators have a guide drive the team, where at other places you may drive the sled yourself. The Ontario Outdoor Website features a variety of dog sledding adventures and getaways.

Urban Winter Getaways:
For those who want to enjoy the best that Ontario’s cities have to offer over the winter time, there are a variety of special events going on. Many cities and towns throughout Ontario feature special winter festivals, starting with many festivals of light, tree lighting ceremonies and New Year’s celebrations in November and December, and continuing with a variety of special events, trade fairs and restaurant promotions throughout January and February. The Success with Ontario website features a listing of Ontario’s Festivals and events.

Major festivals include:
Toronto’s WinterCity Festival and Winterlicious
Ottawa’s Winterlude Winter Festival
Niagara’s Icewine Festival

Ontario Accommodation Choices:
Ontario offers a wide variety of choices for getaways. From all-inclusive feature-packed resorts, to down-to-earth farm vacations, to cozy bed and breafasts, secluded cottages and chalets and inviting country inns, Ontario has a wide selection of accommodation providers. Unique boutique hotels, and centrally located urban hotels round out the accommodation offers. Ontario Travel’s website offers a great overview of the accommodation choices available in Ontario.

There is plenty to do in the winter in Ontario, indoors and out. Nature lovers, urban explorers, adrenaline junkies, and romantic lovebirds will all find something to choose from to brighten up those cold winter days.

Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions ( travelandtransitions.com travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.

Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest ( travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.

“Life is a Journey Explore New Horizons”.
The story with photos is published at Travel Stories and Photos ( travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/hello_barrie_3.htm travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/hello_barrie_3.htm)

Serengeti Lion Safari

Posted by admin on March 8, 2010  |  No Comments

The Ngorongoro Craters [an ancient collapsed volcano] is home to more than 50,000 animals in a relatively small area. There are approximately 60 Lions here and there is a good chance of seeing lions when you visit here on safari. The Serengeti National park which lies directly next to Ngorongoro and covers 5,100 square miles – has 250 lions presently being studied in about 20 prides. Lions keep to their own territories; however, a territory can cover 300 square miles.

A good driver/guide will know where these lion territories lay, with the prides being typically found at waterholes, rivers and kopjes – although the lion’s can go days without visiting their favorite hot spots.

If hyenas are feeding the calls they make as they feed is like a dinner bell to the lions.

Female lions can have up to four cubs; typically there are two or three cubs in a litter. Each cub is born with distinctive pattern of whiskers and spots on the face, this pattern never changes and is comparable to a finger print in a human. Park rangers and research teams use these distinctive makings to identify individual lions.

The Female’s within a pride have a marked lack of hierarchy – they live together without conflict. The females hunt together; typically going for wildebeest and zebra sized game; the males hunting the larger game such as giraffe.

There can be from a single male up to seven males in a pride. The male lions have a hierarchy; a male lion will, on average, remain with a pride for two years. When an outsider arrives into a pride and successfully challenges a male – this male leaves and never returns.

Lions are the only cats that have social groups and the only cats that have manes. Recent research in the Serengeti seems to indicate that the lion’s mane is an indication of maturity, health, aggression and reproductive success. The females also being attracted to the longer darker manes. Also males with shorter lighter manes will more readily be challenged by other males.

The East African lions have dark manes apposed to the lighted manes in Southern Africa.

Females defend their territory every few days but the males less often; as there are few nomadic males in the Serengeti. In the wet season, with the arrival of the great migration, the male lions have to defend territory more often against the nomadic males; as these males tend to follow the migration.

The lion is a highlight of any safari and the Serengeti is a wonderful place to observe these majestic animals. The Serengeti should be visited for at least five days. Most visitors visit the central Serengeti as this has the highest concentration of Animals however if you have time it advisable to visit the south or the north of this vast National Park to appreciate its beauty.

Bethel Adventures and community initiatives work from Arusha in Northern Tanzania. betheladventure.co.uk betheladventure.co.uk uses tourism to change lives; our community initiatives are focused on the education of the young and the medical care for the whole family.

Visas, Money and Travel in Tanzania

Posted by admin on March 8, 2010  |  No Comments

The Tanzanian currency is the Shilling it cannot be imported into the country and so it is necessary to bring foreign currency with you on safari. US$ Dollars are the best currency to take to Tanzania with the Euro or GB Pounds coming in second and third. US$ Dollars are bar far the safest option with larger notes US$50 and US$100 offering a better rate of exchange. The lower denominations are not popular with the US$1 being difficult to get rid of except as a tip. If you intend to pay for a safari with cash then pay in large dominations to avoid a possible penalty.

Travellers checks are accepted by banks and bureaus, they attract a lower rate of exchange and can be a bit of a hassle; it is better to keep them to a minimum or to avoid them totally. Credit cards [Master and Visa] are more widely accepted now than they were in five years ago. However, if you wish to draw cash against a credit card then try to do this from the banks as many hotels with change heavy commission for the privilege. More importantly let your bank know where and when you travel otherwise you may hit problems once you start using your card in Tanzania.

Visas are available in advance from Tanzanian Embassies or they can be obtained on arrival at border posts or airports. There is a departure tax for Tanzania if you leave by air but this should be included in the price of your ticket.

It can be expensive to fly into Kilimanjaro airport especially in high season. It is usually a cheaper option to fly into Nairobi airport and transfer countries via the bus-shuttles that travel to Arusha via the Namanga border post. At Nairobi airport purchase a transit visa this costs US$20 and will last between five and seven days. All visas obtained on arrival in Kenya and Tanzania must be paid in US Dollars and in cash. Have the correct amount ready. The Tanzania holiday visa costs vary according to nationality.

The shuttles are 25 seat coaster buses that travel from Central Nairobi to Arusha town and then off to Moshi Town which is nestled against Kilimanjaro.

The shuttle bus companies are Riverside, Davanu, Bobbies and Impala. The price should be about US$ 25 per person and an extra US$10 to Moshi. They will all pick up and drop off passengers at city centre hotels in Nairobi or Arusha – by special arrangement. They all set off from Parkside hotel in Nairobi and end at Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha.

The shuttle from Nairobi can be taken either from the city centre or from the airport. If you have a late arrival then an overnight in Nairobi will be necessary. It is best to overnight at the Parkside Hotel in Nairobi as it is clean and inexpensive – no more that US$20 per person. All the shuttles for Tanzania leave from outside this hotel.

The journey should take about five hours including Immigration and Customs at the border post town of Namanga. The driver will show you where to go to get the necessary stamps for your passport. The shuttle will give out immigration cards for you to fill in whilst you travel. To do this in advance will save time at the border post – remember to travel with a pen to save on unnecessary stress.

If you travel in the midst of high season – mid July to October I would advise you to make all your bookings for accommodation and safaris in advance. All other months and especially low season [March through to the end of June] it is possible to arrive in Tanzania and Zanzibar and shop around for cheap accommodation and bargain safaris.

Arusha Tourist Board Office is on Boma Road and they can advise where to start your search for a safari. The office has a small notice board on the left hand-side wall with special offers displayed by reputable tour operators. The tourist Board offers a safer bet to start a search for a bargain safari. Be warned that as you enter and leave the Tourist Board the Safari Street hawkers will hassle you and try to sell a safari. Remember all that glitters is not gold so beware making deals on the street, however good the sales pitch. Be good natured but firm and do not be tempted by offers that sound to good to be true, because that what they are…

Travelling from Arusha to Zanzibar the cheap way is by bus to Dar es Salaam and then high speed ferry from Dar to Stone Town. Scandinavia, Royal or Dar Express have luxury coaches [about US$18 to US$25 per person] these three companies offer the best and safest road transport to Dar es Salaam. To travel from Arusha to Stone Town in one day means an early departure 6.30 to 7h30 getting to Dar by 14h30.

There are many cheaper alternatives to travel to Dar es Salaam - US$6 to US$10. The two best companies being Amazon or Fresh Coaches as they travel at a slower speed and have fewer seats squashed inside. The fast coaches are not safe and should be avoided at all costs.

The last ferry to Zanzibar departs about 16h30. There is an overnight ferry but this is from Zanzibar into Dar only - it is slow but cheap.

For more information on travel to Tanzania wwwbetheladventure.co.uk wwwbetheladventure.co.uk and for a non-tourist information and Tanzania tourism links see tanzaia-info.co.uk tanzaia-info.co.uk support responsible tourism and change lives

Buying Real Estate in Steamboat Springs

Posted by admin on March 8, 2010  |  No Comments

Whatever your taste in real estate you can find what you want at a price you can afford somewhere in or around Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Remember, Steamboat Springs is really a mountain range. 2939 acres of clear skies, clean water and some of the prettiest fields you’ll ever see. The main business area of Steamboat Springs is located on a flat section of land in between several mountains giving the area a look and feel similar to Switzerland.

Nestled in amongst the pine trees, the running streams, and small lakes you’ll find a small town of unequaled charm with everything you’d need to live a full life. Housing developments are kept to a minimum to preserve the environment but there are plenty of choices available. There are small housing tracts with lovely houses that face the mountains, with streams running through them and with prices that definitely make them affordable whether you are looking to relocate to the area full time or if you’re simply looking to buy that second home, that vacation palace in the mountains to enjoy your summers and your winter vacations. From small homes on easily maintainable pieces of property, to condominiums with common pools and other amenities, to functional cabins in the woods, it’s all available.

Check out the numerous real estate sites on the internet that specialize in cabins in the woods, luxury homes, condominiums and vacant land to get a sense of what it is you’d like to buy. Pick out a piece of land and build that dream home you’ve always wanted. Or buy one of those easy to maintain Steamboat Springs condos near your favorite ski slope for those inexpensive ski in, ski out winter vacations. Check out that riverfront property where you could fish from your back porch in the spring. Or look in the town where you can walk to four star restaurants, enjoy the entertainment the town offers and still be a short drive away from everything else you enjoy doing in the mountains.

e-steamboatsprings.com Steamboat Springs Info provides detailed information about Steamboat Springs real estate, restaurants, ski resorts, lodging, snowmobiling, and more. Steamboat Springs Info is the sister site of e-poconos.com Poconos Web.

Trailer Vacations

Posted by admin on March 8, 2010  |  No Comments

Trailer traveling became popular in the 1920s, when Americans learned and enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of traveling by trailer. Today, more and more people explore the joys of a mobile vacation home, looking for perfect trailers for living and utility trailers for their belongings.

Today trailers for traveling come in a great number of sizes and personalities to fit every budget and wish list of activities. Keys to enjoying your vacation on wheels are deciding the style of traveling you prefer, recognizing the common trailer issues and knowing how to fix those little bugs.

The frame of the trailer, no matter if it is an RV or a utility trailer, needs proper and regular maintenance. Since the trailer frame carries a lot of weight and is constantly wet and dirty while being hit by road debris, it develops a great deal of rust. To prevent it from damaging the trailer, the frame needs to be treated with a rust preventive spray and painted regularly with at least a double coat of paint and primer.

When you paint under the trailer, you have a chance to spot some other problems and damaged parts such as damaged floors or parts. You will have to fix these before hitting the road.

Using propane needs a lot of care, too. Many fires in trailers start with inadequate handling of propane tanks. To detect a leak of gas from its container, gas detectors are very handy. When you notice the gas smell in the trailer, escape immediately without using the phone or light switches that can ignite the gas. Portable gas containers must be inspected on a regular basis, and kept from rusting with a coat of paint. The gas connections must be also inspected for leaks.

To keep your trailer free from unwanted odors, make sure you use enough water to flush, and that a toilet seal is operational. The unpleasant odors may also enter from the roof which is not tight, so if you suffer from odors, make sure you check the roof and the exhaust fan, too.

Saving fuel today is one of the most important issues for any traveler. Don’t press too hard on the accelerator and try to drive as smoothly as you can. When you need to slow down, let the trailer coast naturally instead of using a brake to slow down. A smooth acceleration may save as much as 10 per cent of fuel down the road. To save fuel, check the plugs which can eat as much as 30 per cent of fuel efficiency, and change the oil and water frequently. New tires will also save you fuel. And finally, don’t overload your trailer and clear out the storage areas at least once a year.

Last, but not least, check your trailer roof for decay and rust. A leaking roof can lead to eventual damage to the trailer. Most trailer roofs are made of fiberglass or aluminum, and they can be easily cleaned, painted and sealed with silicone, if needed. Keeping your roof clean and dry is essential for overall trailer longevity.

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in Travel & Holidays and Trailer Vacations, for more FREE information and articles please visit tipsadvice.com/2007/05/01/trailer-vacations/ Trailer Vacations Resources

Hanging Around in Thailand

Posted by admin on March 7, 2010  |  No Comments

Our trip to Thailand had been long awaited, originally planned for the winter of 94/95. My wife Karin had bought the maps and books and even packed; we were off. The balloon was ready at Thunder and Colt with a heavy duty basket tailor made for hard use overseas. And then they went bust. The delay meant that we missed the relatively short window available for flying in Thailand. So it was rainy old England for most of the winter and a rethink of the plan for us. I had been asked to go out there by Jon Nunns having previously worked for him in South Africa flying passenger ride balloons.

Jon’s interest in Thailand comes from several commercial tours he’s probably had the most experience of flying in Thailand. Sky balloons agent in Thailand managed to sell one of the first balloons to roll off the production line to a pair of business men who wanted to learn to fly and fly advertising banners in I come again, this time to train and point them the right way.

So after a fantastic summer passenger flying in England, it was off on a Quantas Jumbo from a snowy December Heathrow. We caught a connecting flight from Bangkok to Chaing Mai, a city in the North which was hosting the South East Asia Games, ( SEA games ) our first port of call. Jon, returning from SAGA, was there for three days to ease us into things.

Our hosts had managed to find sponsor’s a cell phone company and we had a busy schedule ahead. The city was humming with activity related to the games and it was great fun to be there. We generally flew across the city in the mornings and over the main stadium in the evenings.

The stadium itself was about 10km from the centre of the city and lay under an east facing slope which of course moved into shade in the evening allowing us to fly over the stadium and away into open countryside, the mornings had the ability to take us up the slope and away to the west which was not a good idea as there was about 50km of forest and national park before the next road.

It was always fairly calm and finding places to land was not a problem. We were not alone in the air a Carlsburg balloon had been shipped in from Europe and a Cameron Gas airship from America. Strangely neither thought to visit or call the international airport 8km south of the stadium. This caused some amount of trouble as Thai’s love complicated permissions to fly and neither had any. As we did have permission we were contactable and received some amount of flack from their CAA. We smoothed the path quite well for them, prison was mentioned on more than one occasion!

The airship did a fantastic job seemingly never out of the air and carrying a TV camera beaming live pictures from the stadium. During the evening we tethered next to the stadium and the airship still plodded around dropping leaflets.

Thai’s are football fanatics and the Asian cup was also held during the games in the evening. Our tethers coincided with all the home team games. As Thailand progressed through the ranks tickets sold out and it started to get ugly at the gates. For the semi final the fans burnt down the ticket tents in protest and several thousand extra tried to get in causing an outbreak of police brutality.

We tethered high allowing us to see the matches and carried PR people, they tended to want to stay up a while as we had the best view in the house!

On the first and last day of the games we flew into the stadium itself, the first flight by Jon, with me on board and the last by myself. What a fantastic feeling when you drop over the edge of the stadium roof and come to a dead stop amid all that noise and then pile out again, really good fun, it comes highly recommended!

The flights over the city were also commendable. The airport required us to stay below 1000′ and if we required to fly higher then we had to call them on VHF. It worked well and of course flying across temples at low level was fascinating. Chaing Mai old city lies within a square canel and contains some 300 temples in total. It was here that we aimed to overfly every day. The River Ping winds it’s way to the east of the old city and was very handy for big direction changes. As a rule most wind directions could be found and staying over the city centre for an hour or so and then climbing and departing was fairly easy.

I have to say that Northern Thai’s seemed more fun loving than their Southern countrymen. To this end they enjoy letting off fireworks and tissue balloons carrying balls of burning rag to keep them aloft. Not uncommon to see 10 or so cross the night sky glowing red when drinking a beer. They climb quite high as well I flew with some at 3000′. On a couple of occasions, on landing villagers let off tissue balloons in our honour. They also flew bigger ones with strings of fireworks blasting away underneath. All good stuff for balloonists to watch. The last night of the games saw the launch of in excess of 1000 of these balloons in about 10 minutes from all around the stadium, and as it was a calm night it was the prettiest balloon thing I’ve ever seen.

So once that was all over it was off to Bangkok eight hours South by road. Unbeknown to myself we had come to the notice of the Prime Ministers office and were sought out for a job!

The deputy Prime Minister, Thakasin Shinawat, had said on coming into office early in 1995, that by the middle of January 1996 (or 2539 as it is over there) he would sort out Bangkoks traffic problems. He has been pouring millions of Baht of his own money into what is basically an impossible task. He has also been doing all sorts of stunts to show the people that he is trying to remedy the situation.

We were asked to fly him over Bangkok to observe the traffic from the air, this being in their words, a low cost solution. Permissions obviously had to be sought. We were summoned for our first meeting with the CAA on Christmas Day, at 10 O’clock, everybody apparently finding it amusing that I was missing my Christmas day. On arriving it transpired that they didn’t really want us to fly as it is a military state and they didn’t want me to see anything I shouldn’t. The Kings Palace is a no no to fly over as you should never have your head higher than his! However the civilian run Prime ministers office had put big pressure on and they felt they had to relent and by the way, what could we tell them about the other balloon and airship in Chaing Mai ( are you getting the picture that this is a warning). It transpired that we held the winning hand but they really had to tell us they did not like it first. There one and only request was that I didn’t fly higher than 500′. Now what! a pleasure. Royal helicopters fly at 800′ so that was that. I walked away on Christmas days with a piece of paper that ordered me to fly not above 500 AGL wherever I liked! A trip then to the tower at Bangkok International to let them know what was happening and pick up an air chart. They already knew all about us and wouldn’t give me an air chart: military secrets and all that. If I’d known I could have brought them in England before we left!

Thus it came to pass that I was doing balloon traffic reports over the city of Bangkok with the deputy Prime Minister on board and a film crew and five TV crews following through the traffic. We flew two days doing four flights. The flights themselves were pretty exciting to the point that I wouldn’t rush to do them again. The tallest building is getting on for 1000′ and we flew right between a bunch of them of course stopping all the traffic as we went. For those that know we launched from just above Siam Square and flew across generally towards the Queen Siriket Convention centre and then over the river. The 500′ level became a real pain in the afternoons as the OAT was some 37C and thermals were popping off all over the place I may or may not actually flown quite a bit higher at the beginning of these flights and came down when it cooled down, but perhaps I’d set the altimeter incorrectly!

So after all the fun and games it was off to train three people in total: our agent and the two business men. To start with we went off to Rayong a Province to the SE of Bangkok renowned for it’s beach resort Pattaya. The guys for some reason where keen to train there. Unfortunately it proved too coastal and the sea breeze knocked out the evening flights and the land breeze in the mornings. Our permission was only for a 25 km square so we couldn’t go any further inland.

Not a problem as one of the guys had relatives with a farm near Kanchanaburi, home of the bridge over the river Kwai in the west of the country. It was here that most of the training was done. It was an ideal area for ballooning, being generally flat with occasional 5-600 foot hills popping up like islands. The fields are mainly of Sugar Cane roughly three quarters and the rest are rice paddies. Everything went fine and after three return trips to Bangkok on business the guys where ready. They will be travelling to England to take their PPL’s shortly.

One more surprise lay in store. Seeing as the flying into the stadium in Chaing Mai had gone so well I was asked to fly into another with a football to start The Thai football league. Not such a big deal but the stadium as 500 metres from the sea with houses all the way to it. Luck was on our side once more and after two days of strong monsoon winds on the day in question it was calm. We inflated behind a five story building which was right next to the stadium and bang on for the wind direction. The signal for us to launch was a series of fireworks the ninth being our go. At the practices which we couldn’t fly into because of the wind we made sure that the marching bands had left and we had a clear stage. You know whats coming next.1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 Go, we rose from behind the building to see that everybody was still stood there,down between them all I came our official hopped out with the football and handed it to the President of Yamaha and we quickly deflated the balloon,! no way was I going to fly out of that one!

So thats briefly it, I haven’t touched on the really infuriating stuff, the stuff thats supposed to add character afterwards. I’ll let you find out all those bits for yourselves.

If you are interested in going out there then the man to contact In fact the head man of the brand new Balloon Club Of Thailand is:-

YUTAKIT WANICHANOND

125/135 CHANGWATANA ROAD

PAKRET

NONTABURI

11120

THAILAND

FAX 584 0042

To update the story in June 04, the deputy Prime Minister became the Prime Minister and is poised to buy a share of Liverpool Football club in the UK. I have since flown in Australia, Kenya and am now back in South Africa with my own ride business. airborneadventuresafrica.com” target=”_new airborneadventuresafrica.com

About The Author
Gary Mortimer
A commercial hot air balloon pilot that has flown throughout the world.
Currently living and working in South Africa.
mailto:balloonsafaris@hotmail.com balloonsafaris@hotmail.com

Packing Smart For Security

Posted by admin on March 7, 2010  |  No Comments

With airlines attempting to limit the number of bags that you can check by charging per extra piece of luggage and TSA restrictions on what you can bring on board in your carry-on luggage, it’s more important than ever that travelers learn how to pack light – and pack smart.
Any time you start making up your packing list for your vacation – even when packing for a cruise – it’s wise to check out the TSA website to see what the current regulations are regarding what, exactly, you can bring with you on the plane. You probably already know that you can’t bring knives, swords, guns or ice picks on the plane, but you may not be aware that most sporting equipment must be checked, too, including baseball bats and pool cues. Packing with airport security in mind can be confusing – you can pack scissors and screwdrivers in your carry-on luggage if they’re less than 7 inches in length, but you’d better not pack a snow globe. You may bring up to four books of matches, but no lighter. Your carry-on can include a 3 oz. or smaller container of gel sports supplement, but not gel-lined show inserts.

Absurd? Absolutely. But there’s nothing you can do about it, so your best bet is to know ahead of time what the current airline carryon regulations are, and plan accordingly. One way to get around some of the more annoying TSA rules is to purchase travel products that are designed to pass inspection. Several companies offer these products or you can shop at your local Target store’s travel product aisle (the best I’ve found) with “liquid, gel and aerosol” in mind.

Knowing the rules is especially important if, like many travelers, you intend to pack just one bag so you can get from car to airplane to cruise and back again without any of your belongings going missing. Packing light for trips takes a bit of clever planning, but it can be done. When making up the packing list for your trip, pare down to essentials – necessary toiletries and medications (including basic first aid like Band-Aids and aspirin); important documents like your passport and plane tickets; simple clothes that withstand wrinkling and can be worn in a variety of situations (or, better yet, just leave vanity at home and resign yourself to being mismatched and rumpled); and the barest minimum of small appliances like hair dryers and travel irons.

If you’re vacationing, you’ll probably pick up a number of books, pamphlets, brochures and informational materials while sightseeing – pack a large manila envelope at the start of the trip and keep them all organized. At the end of your trip, if the envelope is bulky and taking up too much room in your bag, you can mail it to yourself and free up the space. Also, pack a plastic bag to separate your dirty clothes from your clean ones. Rumpled is fine, but you don’t want to smell like dirty socks!

And always be willing to cross items off your travel packing checklist if you absolutely don’t need them. Chances are, you’ll be fine without that extra pair of sneakers or special shampoo. After all, one of the adventures of traveling is leaving home behind!

Stormy Knight, Certified Travel Agent, owns and operates BargainTravel.com, a site specializing in low-cost travel options and discount consolidator flights. Stop by and join the community of travel savers.
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How To Buy Cheap Air Tickets

Posted by admin on March 7, 2010  |  No Comments

When buying an airline ticket, take this advice “Think in advance”. Availability determines the cost of your ticket. Be ready to arrange your travel plans at least 3-4 months in advance. This gives you the advantage of special low fares as well as early bird specials for early shoppers. Be aware of the weekend surcharges and the peak season. Every airline company divides their low, mid-season and peak seasons differently. If your itinerary requires a transfer, a transfer point determines the taxes you pay on your ticket.

Now that we have the shopping tools the question is “Where to shop?”

Internet is holding the first place in sales of airline tickets. Most of the internet booking engines offer discounted low fares which are sold for the minimum commission. The only problem with a internet booking engine is the disability to put a flight on hold or to wait list a cheaper class of service. A travel agent on the other hand has right tools to see the flight availability and to wait list and confirm a cheaper flight depending on a flight status. So call your local travel agent and check what they have to offer and compare it to what you have found on the internet before you buy.

If you prefer an airline company check their low, mid and high seasons. This will give you an idea when to plan your travel. Sign up for web specials so that when any specials are posted on the site you will be advised via e-mail. Also tell your local travel agent your itinerary in advance so that he can contact you when a special fare is available. Also, if you are unsure of your travel plans call your travel agent. He can put your reservation on hold which you can change, rearrange and even cancel with no charges applied.

The low fares you get are usually valid for 90 days. The early specials and other extremely low fares are valid for about 30 days. If your travel exceeds more than 90 days then you do not qualify for the lowest fare even if it is available.

One very important tip to consider is your flexibility. A lowest fare that you want might not be available on the day you wish to travel but if you play around with the departure and arrival dates, you will notice a change in price. That’s why in order for a booking engine or an agent to give you a fixed price they require fixed dates of travel.

With all this in mind you are ready to plan your next trip. Remember, at a right place, a right time there is a cheap air ticket waiting for you.

Vlade Grubisic is professional travel agent. For the best airfare deals,

Renting A Car In Cancun Cautions

Posted by admin on March 7, 2010  |  No Comments

All, Please be warned that even though your credit card may cover damage to your rental car, that is all it would cover. Insurance purchased through the rental agency is the only way to get liability coverage in this part of the world!

When Katey and Ron rented their car at the Cancun airport, they had the impression that their gold credit card would provide the Collision Damage Waiver part of the rental– as is common in the USA– and so they declined to purchase this vehicle coverage to save money. (Collision Damage Waiver eliminates the driver’s responsibility for damage to a rental vehicle.) Not good! Later they learned that during the duration of their rental they had not had this protection at all.
Basically, visitors are well-advised to over-insure rather than risk any possibility of under-insurance. Accidents do happen in this area, and even in the case of a minor dent your hassles can mount alarmingly without insurance coverage by a Mexican company. You may even be required to pay damages on the spot. Don’t be penny-wise and pound foolish!

Also with your Cancun car rental avoid driving in heavy rains as puddles will hide the pot-holes.
Avoid driving after dark. Look out for people walking animals or stray animals.
Make sure that your rental car has good windshield wipers and make sure your rental car is properly insured!

When you rent your car, you will get a form indicating certain things related to the car or vehicle.
It contains basic information like mileage, the rental date, and the car’s gas level.
It also has boxes to indicate that the car has working windshield wipers, seat belts, mirrors, spare tires and other things your Cancun vehicle has. The important part of this checklist for you is the area where you mark existing damage for the vehicle. The car could have dents, scratches, chips, tears, stains, marks. Verify please! And make sure it’s indicated where applicable.
You should be very thorough when signing the check-list.

A dollar will get you a dime or a peso will get you a centavo your car runs on gas. Perhaps the car is given without filling the tank completely. If it goes out near empty, you’re supposed to return it at the same level. If it goes out half full, you are expected to return it half full.
In the event you return the car with less than gas than when the car was given to you figure you’ll be charged higher rates for the gas than at the pump. In Mexico, if you park illegally, the police may remove a license plate if they have a screwdriver and can figure out how.

Then you will have to go to the police station (transito) and pay a fine to get your plate back. If you return a car with a missing plate, the rental company will charge you a fee for it’s recovery.
Verify if your car has a license plate in the front and back when it is given to you. On brand new cars in may have a paper permit taped in the car’s rear window in lieu of plates. When any doubt ask us. In the event the vehicle is missing one plate when you sign for it insure this is so indicated on the rental form.

Don’t be shy to indicate any imperfections with your car and write them on the form!
And don’t leave the keys in the ignition and lock the door afterwards. Last month a nervous girl called us from Playa del Carmen doing just that. We barely made it down there in time to open her car so she could get to the airport in time for her flight.

cancunsteve.com/gabriel.htm CancunSteve car rentals