Travel-4Less

You are climbing to your room in snow shoes and seeing the stars through a hole in your igloo! No, you are not in Alaska or on expedition in Antarctica, you are at the Iglu Hotel and Bar in Andorra.  Located in the Pyrenees, between France and Spain, Andorra is just two hours by car from Barcelona or Perpignan. Recently, Europeans have come to Andorra for the snow (skiing) and shopping. It is home to Granvalira, one of Europe’s largest ski resorts. But the highlight of the area has to be the snow palace that is the Iglu Hotel and Bar, and this year the white winter wonderland has announced they are going green!

The igloos at Iglu Hotel and Bar are 2300 meters above sea level with fantastic views of the Pyrenees mountain range. Here, guests can enjoy untouched nature, clear nights with gleaming stars while snuggling up in a high tech sleeping bag. Your cold comfort on ice room offers no running water but they do have a hot bath. Fur blanketed beds are equipped with sleeping bags that are used by National Geographic explorers in the coldest of temperatures. Each room is decorated individually with ice sculptures. Inuit artists are invited from Canada to craft sculptures inside each village. With minimal tools such as an ice pick or shovel, these artists produce sculptures of seals, arctic wolves, polar bears and whales as well as swirling designs and patterns illuminated by candle light.

There are two igloo bars with hot toddies to quench your après-ski thirst. Husky sled-dog sleigh rides and snowmobile rides are an additional attraction. Some other snowbound activities include mushing, tubbing, buggies, igloo building, snow rafting, panoramic helicopter flights and many more exciting sports that most of us have never heard of!

The hotel announced this year that they want the nature experience of guests staying at the Iglu Hotel to be greener. More specifically, the goal of founder and CEO Adrian Günter is to make the Igloo hotels completely carbon neutral. And energy provider, BKW Energy, will help the igloo villages meet this ambitious goal. Since it takes more than just energy efficiency measures to become carbon neutral, Iglu Hotel plans to reduce CO2 emissions by using green electricity and obtaining certificates from MyClimate, a climate protection organization. The company has not yet decided which projects it will support through these initiatives, but they are considering becoming involved in the area of hydroelectric power. This would make sense since the hotel structures start out as water and then become water again each spring.

The hotel is open from 25 December to April and there are only 26 rooms. Booking far in advance is a must and yes there may be a waiting list. This resort is perfect for taking the kids on a ski holiday in Europe that they will never forget.

Written by Carla Scott for EuropeUpClose.com

Easily accessible by train, La Rochelle, France is a popular destination for European tourists. This coastal town has something to offer everyone, from upscale shops to gourmet restaurants to a variety of historical sites.  Boasting four large ports, the city of La Rochelle is home to a lifestyle (food, activities, sites) that is directly influenced by its maritime culture.

My first trip to La Rochelle was during a week-long break while I was a student at Université de Rennes II. A few of my friends had decided to take the train from Rennes to Paris to La Rochelle and invited me to join them. At the end of a scenic three hour train ride from Paris’ Gare Montparnasse, I was pleased to emerge from the train station to be greeted by the smell of saltwater in the air.

What to see in La Rochelle:

The Vieux Port is a charming area with myriad restaurants and shops; the perfect place for an afternoon stroll. Port des Minimes, one of the largest in Europe, is also worth a visit. It is home to the large Grand Pavois boat show every year. If you haven’t had your fill of coastal culture after visiting these two ports, then head on over to the Musée Maritime or the Aquarium (the sea creatures are sure to thrill the kids).

La Rochelle’s impressive Hôtel de Ville is a unique combination of a 15th-century exterior with a 19th-century interior. Other attractions include the Musée des Automates (with over 300 automated figures), The Musée d’Histoire Naturelle (one of the oldest natural history museums in France) and the Musée du Nouveau Monde, a decorative art museum housed in an 18th-century mansion.

Day trips from La Rochelle:

Two nearby islands offer perfect occasions for day trips. You can take a boat to the car-free Ile d’Aix, where Napoleon spent his last days on French territory. Likewise, the Ile de Ré can be easily accessed by a toll bridge. You’ll be charmed by the lovely views of the sea and the winding white streets.
Just south of La Rochelle is the city of Rochefort, home to the Hermione, a refurbished French frigate that spent time in the Americas in the 18th century. The nearby Marais Poitevin is a lovely, marshy area that can be crossed by boat.

Where to eat in La Rochelle:

For fresh, reasonably priced seafood, I recommend Restaurant La Marée . For 30 years La Marée has been serving up delicious and simply prepared fish, lobster, mussels, shrimp…the list goes on. Its charming, casual ambiance and convenient location next to the train station, allows you to get your seafood fix as soon as you arrive.

A relatively new gem is Grégory Coutanceau’s Le Comptoir des Voyages . Their main restaurant is located at  22, rue St-Jean du Perot. The ambiance is elegant and the wine list is sublime, so you should expect to pay gourmet prices. It’s worth it- with appetizers like deep-fried balls of cod with Port wine granité, Portuguese tomato, served with a sardine fritter and a pork and cinnamon samosa, and entrées like a banana-wrapped filet of scorpion fish with mango salsa and fish and vegetable stew, you’re sure to enjoy a memorable meal.

Written by Jen Westmoreland Bouchard for EuropeUpClose.com

New York Helicopter Flights Flying High Over The Big Apple is another superb post from: Europe & Beyond a holiday travel blog

Flying Sky High in New York City

Flying halfway across the world is as easy as getting on a bus these days. We can live in one country and work or do business in another. Recently more competitions on the transatlantic routes have enebaled many to buy a cheap flight online.  Those flying with Air France from London to New York for business  meetings in the Big Apple may decide to stay on for few days holiday – see take a bite out of the Big Apple

See New York From a Helicopter Flight Tour

New York City really is as big as they say and unfortunately you would need far more than 2 days to see all that this city has to offer. For this reason visitors can see a lot in a short space of time and take a New York Helicopter Tour.

There are lots of companies which offer helicopter tours of New York and it is the perfect way to visit the whole city and capture great photos – all in just 30 minutes. Tours can be pricey, but if you have money to spare and little time on your hands, it is an experience not to be missed. The bird’s eye views of the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park are incredible.

Once you set your feet back on solid ground, go for a walk around Central Park. This green oasis is the perfect place to unwind, relax and come to terms with the fact that you are sitting in one of the most famous parks in the world.

So remember, if you don’t have much time in New York, do a helicopter tour and visit Central Park.

The ‘ask Mr Rants’ feature has been incredibly popular and in the last couple of months I have published a number of travel consumer guides based on the number of emails that I receive from consumers. I wanted to share a few of those guides with you so you can bookmark for future use.

Here are five of the popular guides published.

» Driving abroad advice and car hire tips
» How to protect your holiday
» How to make a travel complaint
» Travel tips for solo travellers
» Skiing holiday tips and ski safety advice

You can rate each guide so I know which ones have to be improved, and of course please leave any suggestions for other consumer’s guides that you would like me to feature. My frequently asked travel questions page includes solutions to a lot of the questions that I receive.

This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Bookmark my travel consumer guides

Puglia’s Cuisine is seafood rich and fresh, and that includes Puglia’s antipasti. Ricotta-stuffed mozzarella, swordfish carpaccio, fresh ricotta wrapped with prosciutto and dribbled with balsamic, stuffed mussels, stewed sweet bell peppers, marinated octopus, and mushroom fonduta–the parade of antipasti seems endless when dining in Puglia restaurants. Commonly listed as Antipasto della Casa or simply Antipasti on the menu, these collections of appetizers are often difficult to anticipate if you’re not familiar with Puglia-style cuisine. How could anyone predict that ordering one dish, which is named simply “antipasti” and has a  10 euro price tag, can result in 7-10 small plates of uniquely prepared food? And even if you are familiar with Puglia’s antipasti, you never know exactly what the chef has on the menu. This article will help you know what to expect from Puglia’s antipasti.

Puglia’s cuisine in often referred to as cucina povera, which means cooking for the poor, and the region’s poor economy has resulted in many hearty, vegetable-inspired dishes. The region’s proximity to the sea (especially the Salento Peninsula) results in many seafood dishes as well. Vegetables and seafood are thereby the main components of Puglia’s antipasti. Local cheeses are next on the list, including mozzerella, burrata (a delicious fresh cheese that oozes cream), fresh ricotta, cacio ricotta (an aged ricotta), and scamorza.

Every restaurant is different of course, but almost every restaurant features an Antipasto della Casa on its menu (often it also says minimo due persone, which means minimum of two orders). Depending on your appetite, the antipasti could be enough food to serve as a complete dinner. It is customary to order one antipasto per person, and the food is served family style. For example, if there are four people, then a plate with 4 small slices of Eggplant Parmesan will appear, or 8 stuffed mussels. If you want to share an antipasto between 2, it is easily accommodated for the most part, however, you may find a few dishes difficult to divide.

If you do not like seafood or want to focus only on seafood, do not hesitate to tell your waiter and the kitchen will likely be able to produce an antipasto accordingly.

I like Puglia’s antipasti, in part, because they constantly supply me with new, unexpected flavors, but I also have several favorite dishes. Mushroom fonduta, for example, is a cheese and mushroom fondue that comes in a clay pot. Unlike French or Swiss fondue, fonduta is meant to be scooped out of the bowl and eaten off of a plate. If it is fall, then it is mushroom season in Puglia, and fresh porcini, crimini, and oyster mushrooms are available. Another of my favorite dishes is baked carrots, potatoes, and artichokes, drizzled with excellent, local olive oil and topped with fresh arugula. Puglia produces 2/3 of Italy’s olive oil, and it is some of the best in the world. A dish of stewed peppers, which sounds quite uninteresting, is also one of my favorites.

In short, though restaurant menus rarely explain the components of an Antipasto della Casa, I highly recommend ordering one to sample the traditional cuisine of Puglia.

Travel onwards just a little distance from the pleasure resorts and duty-free meccas on the north side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and you can immerse yourself in the more pristine side of the Virgin Islands with kayaking experiences on one of the most bio-diverse and interesting bodies of water in the region: the mangrove lagoon and Virgin Islands Marine Sanctuary located on the island’s southeastern coastline.  
The best outfitter to take advantage of this location with is local Virgin Islands Eco-Tours, who also have their own private marina at Holmberg’s Marina from which you launch for outings that range from a minimum of two-and-a-half hours all the way up to five hours.  They provide both top-seated double and some single seat kayaks, and their guides are specialized in the plant and marine life of the area.  Along the way, they will point out the notable plant species and growth, and some of the bird and marine life, such as dwarf herrings, snowy egrets, eagle rays, great barracudas, jellyfish, mangrove crab or nurse sharks.  Typical plant life is dominated along much of the routes by the red mangrove.  Other aviary residents and migrant visitors include the endangered brown pelican, blue herons, night herons, egrets, yellow warblers, hummingbirds and numerous others. 
Some of the outings proceed as far as the southernmost tip of St. Thomas at Long Point, which is where the lagoon borders the Caribbean and is separated only by a coral and shell barrier reef.  Enroute, paddlers may also snorkel at certain points and view some of the inhabitants at closer hand in the shallow, clear waters.

Anguilla means eel in Spanish, aptly named because of its long, thin, stretching physical shape that gives its tiny land mass a lot of variety along its coastline.  At 16 miles (or 26 km) in length and just 3 miles (5 km) in width, this flat and coral island features some splendid strips of beach on its northern Caribbean side.  These are largely protected by offshore reefs which create turquoise shallows running along the beachfront and that are ideal for easy kayaking. 
One such kayak option that will work well with other activity such as scuba or windsurfing and also be near accommodation and restaurants is at Shoal Bay East.  Check in at the dive shop operated on the beachfront here by Shoal Bay Scuba, and rent a top-seated ocean kayak for a session of paddling up and down the expanse of the best-known beach on Anguilla.  The vista from the water is of powdery white swathes of sand lined by sleek hotels, homes and restaurants, backed by palms and seagrape trees.
Another newer option somewhat further west down the coastline is at Crocus Bay, where you can now rent craft from the kayak station operated by the new da’Vida Restaurant & Spa. The setting of Crocus Bay is a bit more uncrowded and geologically more dramatic at points than at Shoal Bay East.  The waters can be just as placid and calm here, but there are large rock and crag formations that mark the end of the sandy strip.  Explore at a safe enough distance to look at this wilder side of chic Anguilla.

Mention Trinidad, and many travelers might think first of an oil and gas focused economy with a terrain of derricks and refineries.  In fact, much of Trinidad’s interior remains home to splendid natural landscapes of mountains and waterways that make it idyllic for either the land or water-inclined eco-adventurer.  Kayaking has evolved here both as a sea and inland based opportunity to explore either coastal or river and marsh habitats.  One such option that exists on the island’s southwest peninsula is the mangrove swampland and estuaries known as the Oropuche Lagoon. 
This government-protected mangrove dense swamp is actually not far from the industrial center of San Fernando.  However, wildlife continues to thrive here – from aviary to marine inhabitants – and although the area is difficult to reach, kayakers who do so are treated to an unusual glimpse of this region of Trinidad’s surviving eco-systems.  The easiest way to access the Oropuche Lagoon may be with locally based Eco Sense Nature Tours, which organizes half-day trips launching from near the mouth of the South Oropuche River (also known as the Godineau River) and going deep into the mangrove.  The paddling is suitable for either novice or experienced kayakers, and the river has sufficient water level to navigate throughout the year.  
The journey in fact takes you through more than one natural environment, going from the saltwater mangrove swamp near the ocean to the fresh water inland marsh and further into cultivated areas.  Although some oil and gas pumps are present in parts of the lagoon, you will see a thriving range of both water and birdlife that are undisturbed here – for instance, both small and large winged species that include egrets, black-bellied whistling duck, osprey, pigmy kingfisher, and a variety of both herons and of migrating duck.   The national bird, the scarlet ibis, also makes occasional appearances hereabouts.  The swamp waters are home to several saltwater species such as tarpon and catfish.

Dubia Airport Guide Shopping Eating and Recreation is another superb post from: Europe & Beyond a holiday travel blog

How to spend your time at Dubai International Airport

Previous airport guides include and Zurich and Abu Dhabi and

With around 5,600 flights to Dubai each week, operated by almost 100 different airlines to more than 200 different destinations across all six continents, Dubai airport is busy and thriving. With a reputation for sleek and modern design, and a fantastic shopping experience, this is one airport where you may want to arrive early, and perhaps won’t be too disappointed if your flight from Dubai is a little delayed.

Shopping

Dubai is famous for its shopping, and no less so than at the airport’s award-winning Dubai Duty Free shop. Established in 1983 by Dubai’s Government, the duty free shop was the first of its kind in the Middle East. Since then it has won more than 70 international awards, and remains the leader in airport shopping.

It is the largest single airport retail operation in the world, ahead of London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon airports. The merchandise is spread over some 5,400 square metres of floor space, including areas for cosmetics, jewellery, electronics, alcohol, luxury goods, sports equipment, designer clothing, tobacco products, toys and books.

Womens clothing, in particular short dresses, skirts and boutique lingeire, has had some controversy with western retailers introducing fashions that are being slowly accepted by the Emirates.  Each year sees new ranges of designer dresses and lingerie carefully displayed to appeal to shoppers but have low impact on local travellers.

Customer reviews suggest that while not too inflated, prices aren’t quite as low as you might hope — but that the sheer range of goods on offer more than make up for this.

For most destinations, anything that you buy after security control can be taken on board the aircraft, including bottled drinks, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics. If you’re transferring to another flight before you reach your final destination, particularly within the EU, your purchases will be placed within a sealed plastic bag. If you are transferring within the USA or Canada you need to put any purchases containing more than 100 ml in your hand luggage before you check in for your connecting flight. You can’t take any liquids of more than 100 ml in hand luggage on flights to Australia.

And if you’re still left with any doubt about Dubai’s fascination for airport shoppers, it won the ‘Best Duty Free Shopping’ title in 2009’s World Airport Awards, based on the opinions of 8.6 million airline passengers across 190 airports worldwide in 2008/9.

Recreation

If you’re all shopped out, there are other, more relaxing facilities at the airport where you can while away some time before your flight.

Firstly, there are two open-air garden areas where you can stroll around and get some fresh air. And within the international transit area of the interconnected Terminals 1 and 2, there are internet facilities, a gym, a swimming pool, video games, prayer rooms, and spa facilities.

The airport also has various lounge areas, some of which contain children’s play facilities, while others have screens showing film, sport and news channels.

Eating

Dubai International Airport is home to more than 25 different food and drink establishments, ranging from the likes of Starbucks selling coffee and quick snacks, to elegant bistros selling more elaborate cuisine. There is even a place serving up traditional Irish pub fare, which seems rather incongruous, as well as more obvious choices such as Lebanese, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Safar, the main restaurant in the concourse, is split up into three sections: Pint 19, which is the bar area; a buffet section; and an a la carte restaurant with an open kitchen, offering international cuisine. You can also find fast food places such as McDonald’s and pizzerias. In short: you won’t go hungry, even if you’re the fussiest of eaters.

For more information about Dubai International Airport, visit www.dubaiairport.com

The plane is descending, flying low over a volcano. Steam rises. Cat, my youngest daughter, is excited. “Look, you guys! The earth is boiling.” And it is! Like the other islands of the Azores, Sao Miguel is volcanic. It’s also verdant and utterly beautiful. The Azores Archipelago is in fact the visible part of the Atlantic ridge, some of the highest mountains on earth, measured from their foundation deep down in the Atlantic.

A few minutes later we land in Ponta Delgada, capital of the largest island, Sao Miguel. Since the early 1400s, this archipelago has been a part of Portugal, attaining status as an autonomous region in 1976. The Azores, comprised of  nine islands ranging in size from 270 sq mile, Sao Miguel, to little Corvo, only 7 sq miles, is our destination.

About halfway between England and the Americas, the Azores is a popular stop for trans-Atlantic sailors. The port of Horta on the island Faial is a good example of this. Horta’s sea wall is covered in paintings and graffiti as sailors through the ages have left their mark.

Back on Sao Miguel, we travel towards the caldeiras (hot springs) of Furnas. It’s as if a giant cauldron is simmering deep inside the earth, forcing muddy bubbles to the surface. Occasionally, a geyser erupts, sprouting boiling hot water. The surrounding valley is vibrantly green. Flowers of every imaginable colour abound. From above, Furnas looks very mysterious, all covered in mist.

In Furnas, we try cozido, a dish of pork, turnips, carrots and sausages, all cooked together in a pot buried deep into the earth and left to simmer for 6 hours in the sulphurous heat of the volcano. Delicious! Furnas is also where you can shake 20 years off your life by swimming in the iron-rich lake in Terra Nostra Park. The girls fret a bit; the lake has a yellow, muddy colour. “Eww!” Also, the idea of becoming younger is in no way appealing. “20 years! We wouldn’t even be born yet,” jokes Alex, my oldest. But curiosity gets the better of them. Soon they’re both splashing in the warm, muddy water.

At Sete Cidades, legend has it a beautiful blue-eyed princess once fell in love with a handsome green-eyed shepherd. “Not suitable at all,” said her father, the King, and the young lovers were forced to part ways. On their last meeting, both wept so much, two lakes were formed: one green and one blue. The twin crater lakes by the seven little villages – Sete Cidades – are best viewed from the vantage point near the ghostly hotel, Monte Palace, where the only ones about are two fierce dogs on leashes, left to protect the abandoned hotel. Meanwhile, Cat becomes fast friends with a much friendlier stray dog.

Capital of Sao Miguel and of the entire archipelago, Ponta Delgada is a pleasant port city, very Portuguese – with nice little cafes and shops. The streets are narrow, the sidewalks narrower still, sometimes just centimetres wide; not very handicap- or baby stroller friendly. Shopping is never a major goal of travelling to the Azores, but there is an upscale shopping mall, Parque Atlântico, in which we spent far too much time for my taste. But travelling with kids inevitably involves compromises. And, it must be said, the mall does have nice shops.

Going up to Lagoa do Fogo one day, we’re again met with fantastic views of a large sapphire lake at the bottom of an extinct volcano. Ambling back down the path, through tropical vegetation, we pass a group of Azoreans swimming and playing in yet another hot-water pool; with rejuvenating properties no doubt. Here at Caldeira Velha, a stunning natural waterfall cascades into the pool.

Volcanic activity is very apparent on the island. One night, the earth moves. Not very much. Just enough to shift the position of the pictures on the walls and to tip a few carelessly placed items off the table. If you’re from California, you would likely shrug it off and continue the conversation. As do the islanders. Our pink hotel, the Bahia Palace, is beautifully situated in Baia d’Alto, just metres from the Atlantic Ocean. It is also full of Scandinavians on holiday. In Scandinavia, natural disasters (or any kind of disaster) are few and far between. Down in the lobby, a few anxious Swedes have gathered to find out what happened. The receptionist laughs. “This happens all the time,” she says in charmingly lilting English. “Little quakes are good for the earth,” she continues. “Just like people, she likes to let out a little steam now and then.”

A Swedish woman is not convinced. The tsunami in Southeast Asia is on her mind. Three days later, we meet her at the airport. She hasn’t slept for 72 hours and looks frazzled. In case a big earth quake hit, she wanted to be prepared.

“Hope you get a nice, long nap on board,” I say as we head for our different gates. “Not much chance of that,” she replies. She’s terrified of flying, especially over water.

Initially I laugh. The way people who aren’t too bothered by irrational fears laugh. How silly to worry about something beyond your control. But then I decide she’s actually a brave woman in her way. After all, it’s not brave if you’re not scared.

Written by Anne-Sophie Redisch for EuropeUpClose.com