Holidays abroad 'still cheaper than the UK

Despite the falling pound and the credit crunch many foreign destinations are still cheaper than holidaying in Britain, according to a new study by travel firm Thomas Cook.

That holiday in the sun might not cost as much as you think.

The Holiday Cost of Living study, which compares prices in 16 popular holiday destinations, has shown that a cup of coffee in Goa will cost you ten times less than in the UK while other holiday hotspots such as Cuba also enjoy bargain prices.

Many other destinations are also ‘significantly cheaper’ with a three-course meal costing around £11.50 in Spain, while a beer in Bulgaria will set you back as little as £1.20.

Germany: Wine trail is a grape place to get away from it all

AS A keen gardener and the owner of a couple of grapevines that have yielded many pounds of delicious fruit during the past few years I jumped at the chance to see how professional growers cultivate their crops and turn their bounty into wine.

The launch of Ryanair’s budget service from Birmingham to Germany’s low-cost Frankfurt-Hahn airport, in the West Central region in Rhineland-Palatinate, has opened a convenient gateway to the Moselle Valley, one of Europe’s leading wine producing areas, particularly the white Riesling.

I hired a car from Hertz at the airport and leisurely drove the 41km to my base at the picturesque town of Cochem. En route I passed countless vineyards which clothed the slopes of the valley like a patchwork quilt. I passed through the village of Bremm which boasts Europe’s steepest vineyard, perched at a gravity-defying gradient of 65 per cent.

Motoring alongside the Mosel River I soon arrived at Cochem, which is overlooked by the fairytale-style Reichsburg castle.

My hotel, the Karl-Muller, was easily located as it stands near the town centre, overlooking the river.

At dinner that night I took advantage of the local specialities, choosing from a menu that included onion soup with Riesling wine, vegetables with Riesling sauce and a dessert of Zaboyone of Riesling wine with vanilla ice cream. Did I mention that a lot of Riesling grapes are grown in this region?

Oh, and there was also Riesling in a glass, as well as a red Dornfelder from the neighbouring village of Klotten.

I was looking forward to learning more about the wine but the next morning I had the opportunity of a guided tour of Cochem with Anja Fortier from the city’s tourist office.

We strolled around the narrow winding streets, calling in at St Martin’s Church and the Town Hall.

Anja also pointed out the entrance to the Kaiser Wilhelm railway tunnel, the longest in Germany. The four and a half kilometre feat of engineering took eight years to build and was opened in 1877.

A climb to 180m above sea level brought us to the castle, a Gothic-style building restored in 1877 to its 16th century splendour.

Marvellous views from an observation platform outside one of the castle’s rooms across the town and valley is the reward for the effort.

A conducted tour revealed collections of furniture, suits of armour and quirky items like a stuffed badger collected by the driving force behind the restoration, Louis Ravene, who bought the dilapidated castle from the Prussian state property administration for 300 gold marks.

It was time to have a close look at the vineyards. I met Andreas Zenz who has launched vineyard walking tours, Wein & Weg, to show where the grapes are grown for the area’s superior Breva wine.

To get from the road to the vines, however, we had to endure something akin to a slow motion rollercoaster; a Monorack which also transports the grape pickers to the top of the slopes.

This mini train travels, on a track, among the vines but the gradient is so steep it feels like you’re on a white knuckle ride.

Fortunately, it only went uphill to the start of our hike! During the walk Andreas explained that a number of winegrowers in the region had joined together as a co-operative to launch Breva which uses the best grapes for the wine. It’s more expensive to buy, around £10 a bottle, but the aim is to show that the Moselle Valley can produce high quality vino.

Stout walking shoes are advisable for the hike as the steep slope and shale underfoot can be treacherous! But at the end, I had the chance to find out how good the wine is.

Among the wines on offer was one made with the grape variety Regent, which is the type I grow. So now I know what it’s supposed to taste like when made into a first class wine!

Travel Facts

AIRLINE details: Ryanair flies four times a week from Birmingham to Frankfurt-Hahn. See www.ryanair.com or you can also book a Hertz car via the website at www.ryanair.hertz.com

Hotel: Prices at the Karl-Müller at Cochem start at 44 euros per person in a double room, including breakfast. You can stay seven nights for the price of six. Go to www.hotel-karl-mueller.de

Guided tour of Cochem: English tours organised by request at the tourist information office, +49 (0)2671 60040. You can also book tours along the Breva walking path. From April-October a four hour guided tour (in German) takes place every Friday, including a wine-grower’s meal and a wine tasting. It costs 25.80 euros.

Volunteering holidays – do good, have a blast

Which would you prefer?

Option A – beach, beer, beach and more beer. Surfing in the morning and lying in the hammock into the evening and then, off to the bars.

Option B – devoting all of your time to good causes. Spending your days – and some nights – giving yourself to a volunteer project, scientific pursuits or conservation.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. You want to do something good for the world around you but you have no intention of waging a heroic one person war on all the injustices of the world. Your free time is for enjoyment as well as for good deeds.

If you chose option A exclusively, you’re not going to be interested in the rest of this article. You might want to switch to a website about rave drug safety or about vacation destinations with cheap booze.

Good deeds on vacation

A holiday in a far flung place can be tantalising, whether it’s sitting on a hammock reading a book or taking part in active sports. Imagine days spent boating on the high seas, maybe diving then spending evenings having cold beers underneath a thatched roof. AND it’s possible to have a trip where you can do good.

Helping the ocean

Conservation, research, cleanups. Examples include taking surveys of coral reefs in the South Pacific and surveying a turtle population in Central America.

You’ll be surrounded by marine life. If you don’t scuba dive already, this may be the opportunity to learn. Gain watermanship skills, meet people and have some very interesting experiences.

Helping communities

You may be supporting people on long-term projects or in helping out in times of trouble such as natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes etc) or civil insurrections and wars. You may be asked with building projects, teaching English. If you have specialist knowledge or training in fields such as nursing/medicine or IT, your skills may be called for in a health clinic or in connecting computers for the village school

You might be able to complement your academic studies or add valuable work experience to your curriculum vitae/resume.

Quality valuable time will be spent and the environment will benefit. You can contribute existing skills or learn new ones on a volunteer stint.

Where to go? What to do?

Proceed with caution and some skepticism. There is a plethora of organisations and companies – both private and not-for-profit – that will place you in a project or good cause holiday (usually for a fee). Make sure you find a reputable organiser for your volunteer projects.

What field are you interested in? Is it international development, scientific research or crisis assistance? What are you good at doing, what field would like to try or gain new skills in? Make sure you feel something is a good match before embarking.

Christmas Abroad, our lack of Holiday Tradition

Christmas Tree on Display in Beijing, China

It has been many a year since Dave and I celebrated Christmas on Christmas day with our families. We always tend to be traveling during the winter months and have yet to put down any roots to start a regular holiday tradition.

Our holiday tradition has been to run away from Christmas at home and go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

We have been feeling a little blue this year. We are missing our Christmas at home with our families more than ever.

Maybe it is because we were too busy and working too hard this past summer . We had many goals that we wanted to fulfill during our three months in Canada and we neglected the people that matter most in our lives. Instead we had our noses in our computers and the summer months flew by. Before we knew it, we were leaving again and had only seen our family and friends a handful of times.

So here we are celebrating another Christmas by ourselves in yet another country. This year it is Thailand and we will be kickboxing through the entire holidays. That will definitely help to take our minds off of not being at home.

To cheer ourselves up, we reminded ourselves just how much we enjoy our Christmases abroad. We have always chosen to go away and our families now have their own traditions without us. We will just have to make our own Christmas traditions and it looks like our tradition is going to be to travel through Christmas. It is what we have done for the past 10 years, no sense changing things now. By revisiting our past Christmases, we are reminded just how natural it is for us to be away.

Budva is the biggest resort in Montenegro, Its ancient town with its fortified walls is considered one of the oldest settlements on the Balkan Peninsula. It is a fascinating maze of cobbled streets and small squares, bursting with colourful markets, open-air concert halls and a wide variety of local shops. There is an abundance of excellent restaurants and taverns, serving tempting local specialities. At night the place really comes alive with dozens of bars and clubs which attract visitors from every corner of the Riviera.

The private apartments of Budva and Becici are situated 900 metres from the beach. This selection of private apartments is an ideal way to sample the coastline during a holiday to Montenegro. Discover the old town of Budva that is encircled by the medieval city walls make a harmonious entity of old and the new. Wander through its narrow streets and squares with churches, galleries, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and boutiques.

Prices are based on 2 people sharing a studio or 4 people sharing one bedroom apartment, all equipped with shower, WC, balcony, TV and kitchenette.

PETROVAC - MONTENEGRO

On a long, sheltered bay enveloped by hillsides of fragrant flowers, shrubbery and woodland, the resort of Petrovac is charming and is great for all guests of all ages. There are two stunning, small-pebble-and-sand beaches and within the Petrovac, a colourful array of shops, restaurants and cafes.

Situated about 800 metres from Petrovac beach, this selection of private apartments is an ideal choice for a relaxing holiday.

ACCOMMODATION: Prices are based on 2 people sharing a studio or 4 people sharing one bedroom apartment and 6 people sharing a two bedroom apartment, all equipped with shower or bath, WC, balcony, fridge, kitchenette, cable TV and air-conditioning.

Board basis: Self-Catering

Distance from beach: max 800 metres

Holidays Abroad (groups) Greece

Top 10 reasons to travel to Greece with Nacel

1. Our program will allow you to see in few days many of the most famous Greek cultural sites

2. Discover the diversity and the beauty of Greek landscapes

3. Fill you mind with magical memories

4. Enjoy sunny beaches

5. Taste the famous Greek cooking

6. Immerse yourself in the Greek cultural richness

7. Your itinerary is already planned, no bad surprises

8. Don’t worry about the meals and the accommodation, everything’s taking care of

9. All excursions are already paid, you only have to enjoy your trip in Greece with Nacel

10. You will only want one thing: come back!


Greece in short

Country: Greece
Inhabitants: 10.749.943
Climate: Temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Capital: Athens
Government’s type: Parliamentary republic
Currency: Euro
Main religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Language: Greek
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March
GDP per capita: 30 200 $ (2010)


Since 1957, Nacel offers a wide range of cultural and linguistic travel. Our collaborators will make of your trip in Greece an exceptional and unforgettable experience

Historical sites used to draw many tourists to Greece. However, if this country is so popular, it is because it has a lot to offer to its visitors. Of course, if you travel to Greece, you have to visit the Olympia, the Acropolis, and Delphi… But you also have to enjoy the beaches, have a drink in a tavern in a little village, taste the delicious local food, relax yourself…. Greece is much more than a tourist destination… It is a place where you can recharge your batteries, and you surely will enjoy being there!

We offer you a Trip in Greece which will allow you to discover the most beautiful Greek monuments, but also to relax! Come and travel to Greece with us, and take the opportunity to live a matchless experience!

Travel: The sunshine state of Florida has left me beaming

NOTHING beats leaving England on a cold, drizzly weekday knowing you are heading to a place nicknamed the Sunshine State.

And Florida did not disappoint us.

Before we jetted off on a nine-hour flight we enjoyed breakfast and drinks at the Virgin Atlantic V room at Gatwick Airport. That was followed by hearty meals on board the plane, leaving our stomachs well and truly satisfied by the time we arrived in Orlando.

Thousands of families are lured to Orlando for its variety of entertainment spots and affordable package deals.

We had come to sample some of the treats on offer in the form of SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove and Aquatica.

A brisk 20-minute transfer from the airport brought up to the exquisite Renaissance Hotel, located opposite the famous SeaWorld centre.

The hotel was deceivingly average looking from the outside but once inside we were transported into a rather sublime experience. Large trees and plants dotted around the ground level atrium and dining areas made it feel like the gardens were brought to life indoors.

After a good night’s kip to shake off the remains of jet lag, we headed over to Discovery Cove.

A mixture of man-made beaches, heated pools, a lazy river that whisks you along with the tide and even an aviary provide hours of pleasurable activities for visitors.

One of the highlights at Discovery Cove is a chance to swim with a trained dolphin. Our allocated companion was a 40-something alpha male, called Akai. Prior to coming to Orlando I’d had no close contact with the gracious creatures. Watching Akai perform tricks and even tagging along for a ride on his dorsal fin, did make me wonder if he would rather be out fending for himself in the deep blue sea. But, he seemed to be keen on human interaction and the attention he got from his harem of female dolphins.

Trainer Brian explained to the sceptics among us, that dolphins have a choice to take part in the sessions or not. “They won’t perform if they don’t want to, we can’t force them to do anything,” he assured us.

Besides Akai plenty of other wildlife lives at the park. The aviary is home to all kinds of squawking, colourful feathery delights like parrots, pelicans and flamingos. For an up close view of the birds, visitors can hold a small bowl of tasty grub and some of the birds will swoop down for a feed.

Another smaller pool has around a dozen or so rays, some bigger than coffee tables, swimming around for guests to pet or watch.

Dinnertime was a momentous occasion at shark grill, SeaWorld. Large sharks and dozens of colourful fish swim in a large tank right next to restaurant’s dinning area.

An American-sized portion of brownies with ice cream for dessert meant I started day three with an early morning session at the hotel’s gym. There was also a heated pool and spa area, for those after a more relaxed break – or with no hang-ups about wearing a wetsuit and bikini for hours on end.

At SeaWorld acres of land have been transformed into a mixture of thrilling rollercoasters, sea-life shows and general family-friendly entertainment.

The show everyone loves to see is Believe, performed by the killer whales.

When we arrived for a performance, it was exactly a month to the day since Dawn Brancheau, one of the animal’s trainers, was tragically killed by a whale that had dragged her into the pool by her hair.

The whale in question, Tilikum or Tilly as his fans know him, was in a tank backstage and not taking part in the show.

The whales leapt, dived and waved on cue, it really was a mesmerising sight. The crowd was so passionate about the show and we were informed it regularly sold out three times a day. The unfortunate incident with Dawn has meant trainers are no longer permitted to enter the pool with the whales, but judging from the audiences reactions it would remain a firm favourite in their eyes.

Over the four-day trip, there were plenty of opportunities to get personal with all kinds of fish and animals. Be it feeding stingrays, meeting penguins or watching polar bear Johnny learn new behavioural skills – which his trainer said were different to just teaching him tricks as it aided their communication with him.

Our group was divided into two to experience some of the more unusual activities offered at the park. I opted to join in the beluga interaction. The underrated blubbery mammals can be taught to perform in ways similar to dolphins. We were half-submerged into a sub-zero temperature tank with an energetic youth called Klondike and helped feed, pet and train him.

The other group were plunged into a pool for a deep shark cage dive wearing an oxygen helmet, with just a few metres separating them from the one of the sea’s most daunting beings.

Part of SeaWorld that is rarely spoken of outside the US is the conservation of manatees that goes on behind the scenes. Staff are called out to rescue injured or distressed manatees – usually from drifting into cold water and they are cared for in specially-built tanks until well enough to be returned to sea.

Of course, the park’s many rides are among the biggest attraction, and can be seen looping high above the grounds.

A much-anticipated visit to Busch Gardens, in Tampa Bay, was next on the itinerary. The attraction is set in 335 acres of land and features over 2,700 animals as diverse as elephants and Bengal tigers.

It combines play areas for young members of the family with bigger, scarier rides like Sheikira and Montu.

Our arrival on the opening of the Sesame Street Safari at Busch Gardens was quite exciting as I’d grown up with the characters who made an appearance at the park. Getting snapped with The Count, Elmo, Big Bird and Burt and Ernie was my inner five-year-old’s dream.

Later that day, we were invited to prepare an elephants party – a daily ritual for the Indian elephants where their carers put out fruit and vegetables and sweets for them to find and eat.

Our last day was spent at the water theme park Aquatica, lazing in another shaded cabana and slipping down slides of all shapes and sizes.

A quick visit to a shopping mall containing bargain-filled factory outlet stores helped us part with our remaining dollars before we headed home.

Orlando contains many theme parks and entertainment venues that have kept millions of people returning year after year. The fascinating thing about SeaWorld and its sister parks is its ability to offer a family-friendly break but at the same time, a fantastically diverse experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.