Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Monday, May 16, 2011

PITLOCHRY

Pitlochry (Website for this image)

Thinking of a holiday in the United Kingdom?

Try Pitlochry.

Pitlochry and Ben Vrackie by Val Vannet

Pitlochry, in Perth and Kinross in Scotland, is the quintessential highland town.

It has a population of 2,564.


The friendliest, most relaxed and most comfortable hotel in Pitlochry is The Green Park. AA rosette for food.

“Probably the best hotel we have stayed in!” / “Excellent Hotel” / “The most comfortable and relaxed hotel.” / “Excellent hotel - top class customer service” / “Truly excellent and relaxing”/ “Very friendly, very comfortable and very popular.”

For shopping, try the House of Brewer (Food, clothing, art, restaurant....) House of Bruar - Quality Scottish Country Clothing and Produce

Pitlochry lies on the River Tummel and is surrounded by mountains, including Ben Vrackie and Schiehallion.

Much of the architecture is Victorian.



In 1947 there began the construction of a dam as part of the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme.

The damming of the river created Loch Faskally.

The dam and its fish ladder can be viewed by tourists.

Website for this image

Pitlochry's famous Festival Theatre was founded in 1951.

(Pitlochry Festival Theatre What's On)

There are two whisky distilleries, both with visitor centres.

Edradour, the smallest distillery in Scotland, is privately owned.

Blair Athol Distillery is owned by Diageo.

Pitlochry (Website for this image)

Pitlochry has a fine golf club with fine views and fine food.

Worth a visit is Blair Castle, with its Hercules Gardens.

Blair Castle is home to the Dukes and Earls of Atholl, and home to the Atholl Highlanders, 'only remaining private army.



Also worth a look are: Killiecrankie, Rannoch Moor, Ben Vrackie, Black Spout Wood, MacNaughtons of Pitlochry and Queen's View



~~

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Travel

Nice in France.

BEST CITIES TO VISIT
HAPPIEST DESTINATIONS
CYPRUS
HOLIDAY IDEAS
BETTER THAN VENICE?
THAILAND, EGYPT, TURKEY, DUBAI, MOROCCO, MEXICO, M...
Ethos Travel
TripAdvisor
THE CANARY ISLANDS
AVOID THOMAS COOK?

Bogor, Indonesia

Venetian Reflections
FEWER PACKAGES; HIGHER PRICES
World Travel Awards 2009
Travel News
HOLIDAY IDEAS
JAMAICA
SOME HOTELS
TRAVEL LATEST
World Travel in the past
Travel Videos; Indonesia

Venice.

Cheap holidays coming as travel abroad falls
Northern Cyprus
Sousse 4
Sousse 3
SOUSSE TWO
SOUSSE
Asian air fares
The Red Sea Riviera, in Egypt's Sinai.
Tunisia and child sacrifice
MALTA - Good and Bad

Venice, Italy.

NO MORE CHEAP HOLIDAYS FOR THE BRITISH AS THE POUN...
AVOID THE GAMBIA?
Dangers in India
JERSEY in the UK
Where travelers may find low prices
2009 Destinations - Lonely Planet
Avoiding beeing robbed on holiday
RAIL TRAVEL
EGYPT
BINTAN ISLAND

Venice, Italy.

Celebrity holiday favourites
It is not yet the end for budget air travel
Indonesia?
Copenhagen
Tourism and the Emerging Economies
Is Holiday Travel Recession-Proof?
Easy
Vacations, holidays, travel
Tailormade
Where to go on holiday as the pound falls in value...

Mumbai

Air Asia
Trip Advisor lists
CUBA
Paraguay, Uruguay, Moldova
'Kingdom by the Sea', by Paul Theroux
RIO DE JANEIRO
VENICE
ZIMBABWE
ISCHIA, CAPRI and the BAY OF NAPLES
The Old Cataract and the Old Winter Palace

Mumbai.

Morocco
Jura France, Perast Montenegro
Isfahan
Galapagos, Panama, Maldives, Sri Lanka
AirAsia
Travel3
SAGA
ERITREA - Asmara
Best times to travel?
Travel Thoughts

Paris

Britain's 'radioactive' tourist resorts?
Travel News
Holiday Ideas
Picardie - Picardy
Where to travel?
Not offering the customers what they want
Holidays cost more for the British
The war on tourism
Audley Travel in Indonesia
Audley Travel

Paris

Travel warnings
Vacations, holidays, travel
TRAVEL VIDEOS
Avoid Emirates airline
DHAKA, BANGLADESH
The investment performance of property
ZUG in Switzerland; Marc Rich
Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailan...
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Olongapo City, North of Manila

Paris

MADRID
DUNDEE
Jakarta
Some top destinations
PRINCE WILLIAM'S CUTE KINGDOM OF FIFE
Ischia, Capri, the Bay of Naples
Paris - pouting schoolgirls
POUTING SCHOOLGIRLS AND MAGIC NOIRE BEAUTIFUL BOYS...

Friday, May 28, 2010

Honeymoon to Africa


   So I spent the week posting ideas about a safari-themed wedding - now what about the honeymoon?  And I'm not talking a safari-themed honeymoon (although I am sure you can interpret that many different ways all on your own.) I am talking an actual safari honeymoon.  Now safaris tend to be on the pricey side. But this will definitely be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  All inclusive package tend to be the way to go. Prices can begin around $3600 per person.  Be aware of the 'wet' and 'dry' seasons and what you will experience with each.

  Below are a few websites to help get you started:
  And keep in mind, there are many things that go in to planning a trip like this. For example, you may need to renew your passport, receive vaccinations and more.  It's always a good idea to consult a travel agent.

Thinking of planning a destination wedding to South Africa? Check out the Safari Company's website for some great information, to get a list of service providers & event planners.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Planning A Destination Wedding



Deciding to plan your wedding in a foreign location can be a really fun way to celebrate your special day. But where do you begin? Here are a few simple tips to help you get started.


Regulations
  OK I know this is starting off with the nitty-gritty.  But this is all something that will need to be considered when planning and budgeting for a destination wedding. So here goes, let's get this out of the way. Every state/country/island has their own requirements and licenses that are necessary to be legitimately married there. To check out some of the latest regulations at your destination of choice visit LoveTripper.com  And be sure to follow up to determine if there is additional red tape once you are back in your home state/country that will need to be taken care of. (ie blood work tests & additional costs/fees) 


Weather
  Make sure you check the seasonal weather in the month you are planning to be wed.  You don't want to spend months planning your event only to have to deal with weather issues like hurricanes or extraordinary heat/cold. 
  Check out the local events. Make sure it's not spring break season as flights and hotels will be more expensive. 


Visit the Location
  As romantic as a destination wedding sounds, its always a good idea to add to your budget a plan to visit the location ahead of time. You don't want to show up a few days before your wedding with 50 guests in tow only to find that the photo on the resort's website is outdated or your dreamy resort is partly under construction.
   It is also a good idea to consider using a local event coordinator. They will be able to refer you to local vendors with whom they have worked with before and know how to get special deals for you and your guests on food and hotel. If they are familiar with working with out of towners (which should be one of your requirements) then all the better. They should be familiar with local customs, and speak both english and the local language. 
   When visiting, plan to meet with as many vendors as possible. It's always a good idea to see them face-to-face. You will feel better knowing who they are ahead of your big day. 


Budget
  Decide how much you and your fiance will be spending on your wedding. Stick to your budget. If you are spending more in one area, know that you will need to spend less in another area. Destination weddings are a great way to help trim your guest list and keep the budget in check. Just don't forget to pad the amount and add room for incidentals (forgotten tooth brush etc). Don't forget to ask about additional fees the hotel may have (ie transportation fees and departure taxes.) Check out special deals for dining and consider using local markets for picnic lunches and local restaurants not on the resort. (also be aware of the safety of the area. Some locales although beautiful at the resort are not safe for travel beyond.)
   Whenever possible, always use a credit card when traveling international. Credit cards shop for the best currency rates and can help save you money. And speaking of money - having all your money cash leaves too many opportunities for theft to occur. Credit cards, if lost or stolen can be replaced. 


Your Stuff
   Don't forget when planning everything out, that you will have to bring it all with you. So consider shipping some items ahead of you or buying things local. Special linens and paper goods that are nicer then the standard stock white linens the hotel offers can be easily shipped back and forth.
  Very important items like your dress, shoes and jewelry should be in your carry-on, to be sure of it's arrival. Having to replace your dress three days before your wedding day will cause more stress then having to forego fancy table linens. 


Guest List
  When planning your guest list, try to keep it simple.  You can't assume that because your wedding is far away that your guests will not come. Choosing a really great location is enticing for many guests to want to go so don't be surprised if they all show up.  (Plan on at least 70 percent to be coming).


Save-the-Date
  Mailing out your Save-the-Date cards six months in advance is a great idea. This will give your guests a chance to plan ahead their vacation time,  search out good deals & begin to budget for the trip.  


Who Pays
  Typically guests should expect to pay for their own travel expenses. But to help out your guests, pricing out airfare and hotel should be researched ahead of time for them to give an idea of what they could be spending.  Many hotels will allow for special rates if there is a chance they can book a block of rooms out. Call ahead to see if any of the local hotels can give you and your guests a deal. (Can't get the deal if you don't ask.) It's also a good idea to search out 3 different price points for your guests to choose from.  Be sure to check on the transportation arrangements. (IE if the hotel offers pick ups at the airport to hotel.)
  Also consider hiring a travel consultant if you are concerned with the logistics and finding great rates. (especially if you have guests traveling from different parts of the world.)
  While the guests are paying for their own travel arrangements, it is expected for the bride & groom to pay for tab for food and beverages. Having your wedding at an all-inclusive resort can help with the cost. 


Rehearsal Dinner  Questions
  Now normally, your entire wedding party is invited to your rehearsal dinner, but do you have to invite everyone else? In a destination wedding situation, it is proper etiquette to invite all your guests since they have traveled far to see you. This will have to be included in your budget if planning this.  But in the end, if this is not realistic for your budget, simply just invite the wedding party and your closest family to the dinner. But extending and invitation for cocktails after the dinner is a great way to keep your guests included and show your appreciation for coming.




Showers & Gifts 
  Inviting guests to your shower and not your wedding is considered very poor etiquette. But the exception to the rule is the destination wedding. Just be sure that the person planning the event/shower politely informs your guests that the actual wedding is a very intimate affair and only a small number of people will be attending. 
  When planning your gift registration, be sure to leave out that information in your invitations. Instead assign a family member or someone in the bridal party to help spread the word. Also know that guests may not want to bring the glassware they bought all the way to another country and worry about how you will get it back.  Expect to receive gifts delivered to your home instead. 


Special Thanks
  Make sure to show your guests how much you appreciate them travelling and giving up vacation time to be at your wedding day. It's always a good idea to have a special party favor that they can cherish.  Also if everyone is staying at the same hotel, arranging a special gift basket at the front desk at check-in is a great way to start off their trip! Creating a themed welcome basket to have in their rooms for arrival including maps, coupons and  a list of local activities available will get things started off for an event they will never forget!


Have fun!
   Things may not all go exactly as planned. Things can happen. But staying positive and having a great energy will allow your guests to do the same. The wedding day is about you and your fiance and not the color of the flowers or the appetizer that wasn't quite what you ordered.  Just roll with it. You will be laughing about that on the plane ride home.