Sip Champagne In Buckingham Palace!
January 31, 2008 by Susan · Leave a Comment
Normally the gates of Buckingham Palace are closed tight to sightseers, leaving us to gape at red clad guards and wonder just what goes on behind that magnificent gateway. For the first time ever during March and April, a limited number of visitors will have the chance to step through the iron barriers and enter Buckingham Palace for a privately guided tour.
During March and April, (when the Palace is not open to the general public) guided tours will be offered through 19 magnificent State Rooms. An expert guide will reveal insights into the history and use of these gilded, glittering rooms. Visitors can view famous masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin, and Canaletto while marveling at the exquisite English and French furnishings. This fascinating tour will end with champagne being served to all in the Grand Entrance where official visitors have made their entrances for centuries.
The two hour tour cost is 65 British Pounds, and must be reserved in advance. Admission is limited to 30 participants for each tour. Tickets cannot be booked online, so interested travelers should phone the Royal Collection at (0)20 7766 7322 or send them an email at specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk. More details can be found at The Royal Collection.
If you’ve been lucky enough to be on a Buckingham Palace tour, post a comment and let us know what we’re missing!
Get A Super High in Vegas
January 30, 2008 by Susan · Leave a Comment
Oh man, talk about flying high, thanks to the folks at Zero-G you can fly weightless in space above the glittering lights of Las Vegas. Put this one on your Bucket List! Every kid since the 50′s has dreamed of bouncing around weightless doing somersaults, flips and chasing bubbles of water. Hooked by films of astronauts in space, the fantasy lives on.
Climb aboard G-Force One at McCarran International Airport and get ready for the ride of your life. After reaching altitude, the plane performs a series of parabolic flight maneuvers which produces windows of weightlessness long enough to practice your flips, dips, spins and Olympic sized leaps. It’s a multitude of fantasies rolled into one; a sky diving free fall (without the wind and no worries about chute malfunction), a space walk, experience Lunar 1/16 gravity or walk like a Martian at 1/3 gravity. If you’re not brave enough to jump out of an airplane, this is definitely the next best thing. Have a look at some of their video’s, they’re hysterical – GoZeroG!
How To Find Budget Airlines in Europe and Beyond
January 29, 2008 by Susan · 3 Comments
Where do you turn to find low cost airlines that fly between London and Rome? How about Madrid to Munich? Soaring fuel costs promise that this summer will see air fare prices higher than ever before. It’s time to pull out all the stops to locate a reasonable ticket price for your summer sojourn to Europe. Many low cost airlines have popped up around the world, but since they save money by not participating in traditional airfare databases scanned by booking engines, it can be difficult to find them. Luckily, we’ve found four great online sites for locating low cost airlines everywhere in the world.
DoHop.com
LowCostAirlines.org
Skylow.com
Skyscanner.net
WhichBudget.com
Rental Cars Get Transponders
January 28, 2008 by Susan · 3 Comments
No more squinting at road signs trying to figure out how much the upcoming toll is – and no more digging for change while driving – toll transponders have finally come to the world of rental cars. Three major car rental agencies now give you an option to have your rental vehicle transponder equipped: Avis, Budget and Hertz are leading the way. Each charges a daily fee (usually $1.50 -$2.00, OR $7.50 per week) for the transponder service and tolls are typically billed directly to driver’s credit card. So next time you’ll be driving on toll roads to get to your destination, request a car that is ‘toll transponder equipped’.
Best Travel Planning Guides For Canada
January 27, 2008 by Susan · 2 Comments
Stretching for over 3,000 miles coast to coast, from the Atlantic Maritimes, to the soaring pacific mountain ranges, the five (whoops, make that 10!) Canadian provinces deliver dramatic beauty and friendly welcomes. With so much to see and do, you’ll be back to Canada more than once!
Begin your travel planning by visiting the Canada Tourist Bureau
Then focus in on the Regions and Cities
Banff
British Columbia
Calgary
Discover Calgary
Edmonton
Halifax
Manitoba
Montreal Read more
Tourism Guides For Australia
The continent of Australia is about the size of the United States. Planning a trip Down Under requires lots of research and difficult decision making to choose between dynamic cities, unique environments and compelling sites.
Begin your research with a visit to the official Australia Tourism sites:
Australia.com
New South Wales – Sydney
Victoria – Melbourne
Queensland – Whitsundays, Cairns, (Great Barrier Reef)
Northern Territory – (Darwin, Ayers Rock, Outback)
Western Australia – Perth
South Australia – Kangaroo Island, Adelaide
Tasmania
Australia Capital Territory – Canberra
New Auto Guide For National Parks
January 25, 2008 by Susan · Leave a Comment
Heading for a National Park tour this summer? Don’t go without a Gaper Guide! These portable guides have just been introduced for Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The GPS enabled tour guide sits comfortably on your vehicle’s dashboard. As the GPS unit identifies where you are, it points out interesting facts, local history and stories of the legends of the national parks. So instead of trying to read a guide book as you make your way through the parks, this devise will act as your personal tour guide.
The guide rents for $35 a day, or $20 for a half day and can be picked up in Jackson, Wyoming, or West Yellowstone, Montana. If that’s not convenient, the guides can also be delivered and returned by mail. The guides are available from May 15th to October 15th and must be reserved in advance at the Gaper Guide website: GaperGuide.com.
Calling All Brides – Castle Hop Like Royalty in Ireland
January 24, 2008 by Susan · Leave a Comment
You’re planning a wedding and dressing like a princess, so why not honeymoon like royalty as well! The folks at Sceptre Tours are offering customizable honeymoon itineraries throughout Ireland that include stays in one or more glorious countryside castles. Dubbed the “Emerald Castle Package”, the 7 day vacations can be tailored to a variety of budgets. You may want to wander through the acres of formal gardens at Adare Manor Castle (pictured here), or tip a pint at Ashford Castle, once the home of the Guinness family. Perhaps rest your head under the canopied bed chamber at Waterford Castle before venturing off to the Waterford Crystal Factory for a tour. Start your daydream (bride or not) by having a peak at the sumptuous castles.
For more information on vacationing in Ireland, check out some of our Ireland postings: Best Online Guides for Ireland, Irish Tourist Board Sites, and Ireland Driving Tips You Need To Know
Travel Safely With Food Allergies – Travel Alert Cards
January 23, 2008 by Susan · 2 Comments
According to the International Food Information Council, approximately 11 million Americans have life threatening food allergies (Shellfish, Nuts, Eggs, etc.) . A far greater number have food sensitivities and in tolerances (Lactose, Gluten, MSG, etc). And even more of us have dietary restrictions (salt free, sugar free, etc.) If you or a member of your family has to restrict their food selections, you know just how difficult it is to feel confident in restaurants that the meal you are ordering will be free of foods that make you ill. Now imagine being in a foreign country with a language barrier – the prospect of dining out gets down right frightening!
Thankfully several companies are available to assist with this dilemma by producing food allergy cards translated into all the major languages of the world. Selectwisely.com, AllergyTranslation.com and DietaryCard.com will all customize travel translation cards for you in the languages that you need. Then when dining out, simply pass the card to your waiter and ask him to confer with the chef and let you know which dishes are safe to order. These convenient laminated cards can be mailed to you, or are available for immediate download to your desktop (and lamination is up to you.) For those with food allergies, this is truly the card that you never leave home without!
6 Reasons Everyone is Heading to Buenos Aires
January 22, 2008 by Susan · Leave a Comment
1) The city sizzles! It’s a fun, sophisticated city,
often called the Paris of South America
2) Prices are low, Low, LOW – The US dollar is still king
3) Temperatures are hot, Hot, HOT – 80′s all winter!
4) Shopping is divine – supple leathers being the greatest bargain
5) Dining is superb – famous Argentinian Beef at incredible prices
6) Nightlife explodes to a Tango beat. Read more
