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By admin, January 12, 2010 7:33 pm

Information about traveling to and within the country of Spain including flights, rail and road travel and ferry services

Mainland Spain is situated on the Iberian peninsula in the southwest of Europe. It also encompasses two groups of islands. The Islas Baleares (Balearic Islands), in the Mediterranean, Mallorca the largest island is just over one hundred miles off the eastern coast and the Islas Canarias (Canary Islands) which are situated approximately five hundred miles to the southwest and lie off the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Mellila and Cueta are two Spanish enclaves in Morocco on the African continent.

Whilst Spain is one of the world’s leading destinations for the package holiday there is more to this country than the beaches of the costas and islands. The independent traveler will want to move around see what more Spain has to offer.

Getting there – There are thirty one airports on the mainland serving the following cities and towns: A Coruna, Albacete, Alicante, Almería, Asturias, Badajoz, Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, Cordoba, Girona, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Leon, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia, Pamplona, Reus, Sabadell, Salamanca, San Sebastian, Santander, Santiago, Sevilla, Valencia, Valladolid, Vigo and Zaragoza. In the Canaries the islands of El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote and Tenerife and in the Balearics Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca all have airports. Gibraltar, the British colony at the southern most tip of Spain, also has it’s own airport. British Airways and the Monarch fly daily to Gibraltar from several departure points in the United Kingdom and Monarch has some very good deals on seats. Major carriers provide scheduled flights to Spain but it is also a principal destination for budget airlines with return flights available for less than 100 Euros from other European cities. It is also possible to pick up bargain seats on the many charter flights serving the tourist industry. Air travel within Spain, with the exception of a couple of budget airlines, is expensive.

Major roads provide access from Portugal to the west and France which borders Spain to the northeast. Road travel within the country can vary. Many roads are not of a good standard but Spain has received billions of Euros in aid from the European Union and much of this has been spent on the infrastructure and so it is also possible to travel on some of the newest and finest roads on the continent. The country is well served by many bus companies linking the major towns and cities with express services. There are also a wealth of local bus services.

The train service is well developed enabling access to the country from both Portugal and France and fast travel between towns and cities within Spain. Fares are cheap compared to some other major European countries. Madrid and Barcelona are served by extensive Metro (underground railway) networks.

In addition to the many inter island services ferries run from the mainland to both the island groups and the two enclaves in Morocco. The Canary Islands are served by a boat running from Cadiz. The journey is long, some 48 hours and the sea conditions often make for a rough passage. It may be preferable to fly although as we have already pointed out this can be expensive. Ferries from Tariffa and Algeciras, in the Andalucian province of Cadiz, run to Tanger in Morroco. Ferries also link the enclave of Cueta with Tariffa, Algeciras and Malaga. Mellila, the other enclave is served by a boats out of Malaga and Almeria. The Balearic Islands have services to the mainland running to Barcelona, Valencia and Denia.

More information about Spain can be found at the Spanish Travel Guide

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By admin, January 7, 2010 7:37 pm

Vancouver, British Columbia is an ideal location for the Olympic Winter Games.  It is a major metropolitan area with significant infrastructure, close to world-class mountains and in a country that loves winter sports.  The city’s international culture embodies strong elements from both the East and West.

Another feature of this location is its proximity to the United States.  Situated approximately 40 miles from the US/Canada border, Vancouver will be easy to reach by land.  You may wish to consider rail travel as a relaxing and affordable method to travel to the Games.  Given the elevated demand for airline seats into Vancouver around the time of the Olympics, a land alternative may be the most enjoyable way to get to Vancouver.

Here are five tips/hints for effectively traveling to/from the Vancouver Winter Olympics by Amtrak:

One:  You must first decide your gateway city.  Seattle and Portland, Oregon are the logical choices.  Although both cities enjoy great air service, you may wish to take the Empire Builder from Chicago or Minneapolis/St. Paul to either gateway city.  You will experience the vast Northern plains and the scenic Rocky Mountains (including Glacier National Park) along the way.  Alternatively, you can fly into California and take the Coast Starlight north from Los Angeles or Oakland.  Like the Empire Builder, this train has Superliner sleeper accommodations.  Finally, there is Amtrak Cascades service five times a day between Portland and Seattle. 

Two:  Once you reach Seattle, you have multiple means of transportation north to the Olympic Games.  You can travel on one of two Amtrak Cascades trains that include a stop in Bellingham, Washington before arriving in Vancouver.  Alternatively, you can connect to an Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach that only stops in Surrey and Richmond, British Columbia before its arrival in Vancouver.  If you really want to explore numerous modes of transportation, you can take the Victoria Clipper high-speed catamaran from Seattle to Victoria, BC and the Pacific Coast Lines bus service from Victoria to Vancouver.

Three:  The next decision is where to stay.  Most people will elect to find lodging in Vancouver.  The Pacific Central Station, Amtrak’s depot in Vancouver, is two blocks from the Main Street – Science World station on TransLink’s SkyTrain service.  Four TransLink and two Coast Mountain bus lines run close to the train station.  You will want your hotel to be close to a transit lines since there will not be any private automobile parking at the Olympic venues.  The good news is that your Olympic event ticket gives you unlimited, free access to the TransLink system on the day of that event and the early morning of the next day.

Four:  Two alternative bases for the Olympic Games are Bellingham, WA and the Whistler, British Columbia areas.  Bellingham is about sixty miles from Vancouver.  Both Amtrak Cascades and Greyhound bus service are available to Vancouver many times a day.  If mountain sports are the focus of your visit, you may wish to stay in the Whistler area.  There is Greyhound Canada Thruway service from Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station to the Pemberton/Whistler area.

Five:  It will be extremely important to make advanced reservations for transportation and lodging to see the Olympic Winter Games.  By buying your transportation tickets and reserving your lodging in advance, you may be able to receive discounted advanced purchase fares or fares for students and seniors.  Finally, US citizens should remember that they will need to present their passports to cross back into the United States from Canada.

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By admin, January 3, 2010 7:42 pm

These days travel can be stressful enough. If you are the kind of person who prefers everything organized for you and everything included with no hidden costs, a travel package may be just right. Packages can differ as to what is included, but they generally include all airfare, accommodation and usually some meals, activities and ground transportation.

The concept of a travel package is older than many people think. In 1841, Englishman Thomas Cook chartered a train to take a group of people on a twenty mile train journey; the cost of the trip included food for the day, which was a novel idea at the time. Thomas Cook grew to be one of the largest and most well respected names in the history of travel and a major influence on the travel industry.

Today, travel packages are still popular, despite the internet having made it easier to plan and book trips on line. Packages range from airfare and a couple of nights in a hotel, to all inclusive trips of several weeks at luxury resorts. Travel packages can be found to just about anywhere in the world. It’s the perfect way to see a place that you might be reluctant to visit on your own. Whether you will be wine tasting in France, hiking in the Himalayas, or scuba diving in the Caribbean, you can easily find a package that works for you.

One big advantage of a package is that they are generally less expensive than buying all the components of your trip separately. Airlines and hotels often sell blocks of seats or rooms at lower prices. The savings are then passed on to the traveler. There is always an exception to the rule and it pays to check the total costs of both options before purchasing your package. Most major airlines offer their own packages, which are nearly always less expensive than booking air and hotel separately.

Some packages include an event or activity that is difficult to see if you had to book it yourself – particularly appealing are sports packages or packages for a unique event. It’s virtually impossible to attend the Olympic Games unless you buy some sort of a package. A New York or London package might include tickets to a sold-out show; a ski package might include the use of slopes that are often booked up; a golf package might include a guaranteed tee time.

Check the conditions of your package carefully to see exactly what is and what is not included. Whereas the most important components, airfare and hotel, are probably included in a package vacation, some other potentially costly things may not. If meals are included in your package, does that mean breakfast, lunch and dinner? What about alcoholic drinks with your meals? Also, is ground transportation, bus or taxi from the airport to your hotel or cruise ship included?

Be particularly careful of extras such as activities or excursions – both of which can be costly parts of any trip and are often not included in a travel package. One of the best features of a cruise is the option of taking a tour or excursion at different ports of call. These are not always included and the cost can add up. The meals included may just be breakfast, rather than three meals a day. And determine whether tips are included in your package, another potentially costly item.

Although it is nice to have everything booked and paid for all at once, the ideal package should offer some flexibility and some time to do your own thing. If you are taking a tour of Europe, you will want some free time to just shop; and if you are on a driving tour of the Southeast US, you don’t want to be sitting in a bus all the time. Many more complex packages will include the occasional free day; and you may find that you have a choice of activities or events.

Some independent and experienced travelers claim that a travel package takes away some of the spontaneity and flexibility that traveling can provide. That is true to some degree, although the convenience and cost saving are worth it to many people. And if you are a solo traveler, you may find that you are charged more for the dreaded single room supplement that tour companies levy; although sharing a room with a complete stranger is certainly a good way to meet people.

So is a travel package right for you? Only you can decide that. It may depend on your budget, your destination and your comfort level as well as whether you just want to let someone else do the planning.

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By admin, December 20, 2009 7:43 pm

Europe can either be one of the most expensive destinations in the world, or one of the least costly, depending on what you do, where you eat, where you stay and how you get around.
Europe is a hit with budget travelers and the well heeled alike, but this article focuses on helping the former get the very most from their travel dollar.
The goal of budget travel is not merely to spend as little as possible. The true goal of the budget traveler is to get the most value out of his or her travel budget, and to focus those limited funds on the things that mean the most to them.
Often this means finding cheap lodging in order to enjoy a four star dinner at the finest restaurant in Paris. For others, it could mean buying food at the local grocery and cooking your own dinner, so that you can splurge on a night at the opera or the ballet.
Listed below are some of our all time favorite tips for saving money on a vacation in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter):
- Eat where the locals eat. Eating with the local people instead of the tourists is a great way to save money and enjoy some of the finest cuisine. The restaurants favored by local residents tend to be those that provide the best meals at the lowest prices.
- For a quick and economical breakfast, pick up a roll, some fresh cold cuts and a piece of fruit from the local market. Then enjoy a delicious sandwich and a cup of coffee in the local park.
- When eating out, choose the fixed price menu and the house wine for the best value. Most restaurants offer two or three choices on their fixed price menu, and these dishes are often a great way to sample the local cuisine.
- Sleep cheap on the train. Overnight trains are a great way to both get from place to place and sleep cheaply.
- Be sure to bring a meal, bottle of water and snack along with you. You will save money by not visiting the dining car, and you will enjoy some great food as well.
- Take lots of pictures and enjoy the people you meet on the road. Take pictures not only of local tourist attractions but of the friends you meet along the way. If using a film camera, it is best to bring the undeveloped rolls back with you and have them developed once you get back home, since film developing in tourist locations is usually quite costly.
- And of course a digital camera offers a great and cost effective alternative, and you can choose to print only the best shots.
- Try emailing your postcards. Find a website that offers some great photographs of local attractions, or upload your own from your digital camera. Use these shots to send some great personalized email postcards to family and friends back home.
- Try to learn at least a little bit of the local language. If you know the language, or at least the names of the currency, it will be easier, and often cheaper, to buy the things you need.
- When making large purchases, it is always best to use a credit card. Not only will your cash last longer, but credit cards provide the best exchange rates.
- Get cash through an ATM instead of at currency exchange kiosks and hotels. Like credit cards, ATM cash transactions provide the best exchange rates, and you will avoid the sometimes costly fees charged by hotels and currency services.
- Take advantage of all the discounts you are entitled to. Many locations provide student discounts, senior discounts, etc. If you are not sure about discounts, always be sure to ask.
- Plan your vacation budget wisely. There are some excellent, and very inexpensive mementos of your trip, such as stickers, patches or postcards. For more expensive purchases, remember that the further you venture from the tourist attraction, the less expensive the souvenirs will become.
- Tour the city with the locals. A bus pass or subway token is a great way to meet the local people and see the sights. The public transportation service of most European cites is remarkably efficient, clean, safe and easy to navigate. It is not necessary to speak the local language to navigate on the subway or the bus system of most cities.