Wandercast.TV

Staying in the heart of old town Girona – our Wimdu apartment

Heather Cowper — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:19:15 +0000

Most people who arrive at Girona airport seem to head straight in the opposite direction for its bigger and better known sister Barcelona, but they’re missing out on a gem of a city that’s perfect for a short break. Clearly the Costa Brava Tourism board, who were sponsoring the TBEX conference that I attended, had the same thought in mind in bringing a flight of travel bloggers here and keeping them as long as possible to discover all corners of the region from the Pyrenees to the beautiful coastline. Personally I really enjoy the less discovered cities of Europe like Girona, where you get a local and authentic flavour, rather than the tourist hot-spots where you have to compete with the crowds to see the top attractions.

Five Must-See Sights In Australia

Nathan Schacherer — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Go to Paris, you have to see the Eiffel Tower – go to India, you have to see the Taj Mahal – go to San Francisco, you have to see the Golden Gate Bridge – go to Egypt, you have to see the Pyramids. Australia is such a vast country that being able to see all the “must visits” is difficult even for those living in the country, but when planning your trip to Australia, try to include at least a few of these places…

Uluru

Located in the Red Centre, Uluru has to be one the most iconic sights in Australia. Here you can learn more about the cultural significance of the area, you can do a base walk and meet some of the local wildlife (get ready for the ever-persistent Australian face fly), and you can take more photos than you thought possible – accommodation ranges from budget to luxury, or there is even camping – if you’re brave!

Fraser Island

Want to meet a dingo? while it’s not recommended that you get too close, there are dingoes a-plenty on Fraser Island. As the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island is perfect for 4WD nuts and nature lovers alike. Swim in the amazingly blue freshwater lakes, go fishing, explore the Maheno Wreck, climb sand dunes and go wildlife spotting. Camp out on the beach, or stay in a luxury resort – the choice is yours!

Sydney’s Sights

With the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, it’s hard to beat the stunning Sydney skyline. Sydney is packed with things to do, from museums and art galleries, to Taronga Zoo, Luna Park, and the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium. You can shop in designer stores or find a bargain at the markets. You can picnic in the Botanic Gardens or sip cocktails 37 stories up. You can stay in an expensive suite, a unique hotel, or a cheap and cheerful hostel. Sydney hotels offer endless choices.

Melbourne’s Laneways

A big city that has kept its small-town appeal, Melbourne is full of unique laneways and out-of-the-way bars and restaurants. Listen to the best live music, drink in a bar with honest-to-goodness atmosphere, and marvel at the tightness of jeans worn by Melbourne’s hipsters. Here you can find vintage fashion, vintage vinyl, and a rocking alternative scene. Stick with the theme and stay in a funky hotel, save some money in a B&B, or live it up in a fancy hotel.

Great Barrier Reef

If you’re heading up the East Coast as far as Cairns, then a visit to the Great Barrier Reef is a must. A true natural wonder, this Australian icon can even be seen from space! Swim, snorkel or scuba dive the coral reefs to discover an array of sea life, including sea turtles, dolphins, and more than 1500 species of tropical fish. You can stay in a campervan beside the beach, or go all out in a resort, you could even take a cruise and sleep in your very own yacht. What is your favorite place in Australia? (photo credit: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5)

5 Trips Where The Journey IS The Destination

Nathan Schacherer — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:00:40 +0000

We have all heard the famous quote/cliché “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” which has been twisted and reworded in a thousand ways – and many of us would agree. Here are some trips where the transport and the journey really is the destination…

Vintage Luxury On A Train

There is something special about train travel, something which we personally prefer over any other type of transport.

You can sit for hours on end just enjoying the views from the window – but with the Orient Express trains, train travel takes on a different twist.

Their luxury trains are far from the normal trains people take; you’ve got entertainment, glamorous bar cars, 5-star cuisine served in the dining cars, an observation deck and more – for us it was one of the most luxurious journeys we’ve ever made.

Take The Bus Through Paradise

One of the most beautiful bus journeys we’ve ever made was to the Milford Sound in New Zealand – the purpose of the journey is to take a cruise on the Milford Sounds, but to get there from Queenstown takes 8 hours, which is a very long journey.

On the plus side, the bus travels through some of the most amazing landscapes of the country, and stops in several places so you can get off, take short walks in the forests and enjoy the scenery.

The trip is cheap so it’s definitely doable for budget travelers.

South Africa By River & Rail

With Marco Polo Club you get to travel through Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, discovering their many wonders in very different ways; a houseboat, a 4×4 vehicle, on foot, from above in a helicopter and on a luxury vintage train..! With so many different types of transport, you really get to see these countries from completely different perspectives. Imagine waking up on a house boat and spend your breakfast watching the scenery going past you on the Chobe River.

The Longest Railway In The World

Traveling on the Trans-Siberian railway is among the most common dreams on peoples’ bucket lists, including ours. This has to be one of the most adventurous train journeys in the world, but I don’t know if I would be able to handle traveling the entire length of it, but I would definitely take it for 5 days or so. Taking this trip is not the same as the pre-organized tours on the Orient Express. This involves a lot of planning on your own, especially if you plan to get off at different stops along the way.

Mekong River Cruising

During your river cruise, fascinating lectures will be given by historians and local guides. Gain insight into the Angkor period of Cambodia, as well as the harsh regime of the Khmer Rouge. Learn about local customs and discover the history behind the Vietnam War. By night, the Saigon Lounge becomes a musical theatre presenting a program of the local cultures. Many of the musical evenings are interactive. Learning about traditions and local customs will undoubtedly enhance your appreciation of the places you are visiting. You can also experience entertainment at sea aboard Pacific Jewel Cruises that you never thought possible – the dazzling selection available to you will no doubt become one of the most memorable occasions of your cruise experience. What is your favorite trip when the journey is the highlight? (photo credit: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4)

Wet and Wild Adventures on Dartmoor, Devon, UK

Heather Cowper — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:36:05 +0000

It was the end of the summer as we drove down to Devon, stopping at Okehampton station for lunch in the station buffet that could have been a film set for that post-war classic, Brief Encounter. The station has been restored to its full 1950s glory, with old fashioned locomotives to take you on a day trip on the Dartmoor Railway that runs at weekends to Meldon, where you can walk on the viaduct or up onto the moor. It’s a lovely place to stop for lunch and you can sit at a table on the platform among the hanging baskets and piles of leather suitcases, recalling Celia Johnson’s very British clipped tones, as you tuck into your home-made Victoria Sponge with a pot of tea.

Gorge Scrambling with Adventure Okehampton

Since we had three teenage boys to entertain that weekend, who were looking for a bit more adventure than a bacon buttie, we booked in with Adventure Okehampton who operate cycle hire and outdoor activities on Dartmoor from the Okehampton YHA hostel on the other side of the railway bridge. My son and his two friends met up with their group in the hostel, were kitted out with wetsuits and helmets and whisked off in a mini-bus with us in hot pursuit in the car. As they gathered outside the makeshift changing rooms in a shed on the moor, the fit looking instructors, John and Amy laid down a few rules. “Don’t jump in unless one of the instructors tells you it’s safe and follow the path – if you’re told to go a certain way, it’s for a good reason”. They helmets were double checked, the life jackets fastened and the group was off, scrambling down the bank and into the river. There were several families there, but Guy and I opted to watch from the bank, as the group waded up the river, jumping and splashing in the pools which became progressively deeper as they climbed higher. The boys bobbed around like seals and it really looked like such fun that I was almost tempted to join them, but I’m afraid it takes tropical heat to convince me to jump into an icy mountain stream, even with a wetsuit on. After a couple of hours of exhausting good fun, the boys were returned to us and we warmed them up with a hot drink and a few chocolate bars, then headed on to Woodovis Park, near Tavistock, where we were spending the weekend.

Visitor Information for Dartmoor

Woodovis Park – Our base for our adventures on Dartmoor. Check their Facebook Page. This 5 star holiday park has won many awards and you’ll find mobile homes, camping pod and tipi to hire, or pitches for your tent, caravan or motor home. We highly recommend Woodovis Park as a green and tranquil base to explore Dartmoor National Park or head for the beaches of north and south Devon. The small size and friendly atmosphere makes the park especially suitable for families and those who want a quiet, rural break. Our thanks to Woodovis Park for hosting our stay at a reduced rate. Dartmoor Railway – operate a Heritage train service at weekends from Meldon via Okehampton to Sampford Courtnay. There is parking at the station and the station buffet is open to everyone for snacks, lights meals and teatime cakes. There’s also a small railway museum. Adventure Okehampton – Offer adventure activities and holidays on Dartmoor. They are based at the YHA hostel Okehampton, beside Okehampton station and offer cycle hire as well as a wide range of outdoor activities such as kayaking, abseiling, raft building. The Gorge Scrambling that the boys tried cost £30 per person for a 2-3 hour session including transport, equipment and instruction. Tamar Valley - Offers the Tamar walking trails beside the Tamar river where you can still see the old mining chimneys and buildings – this is where copper and arsenic were mined in the nineteenth century. Tree surfing - Rope course in the treetop, with rope bridges, zip wires and walking. Also the home of Canoe Tamar where you can book groups canoe trips on the River Tamar in Canadian canoes The Barn Indoor Climbing Wall at Milton Abbot – An indoor climbing barn with a range of different climbing courses where you can hire equipment and get instruction Peter Tavy Inn – an old country inn in the village of Peter Tavy on the edge of Dartmoor with excellent pub food and real ales Dartmoor Letter Boxes – more information about the activity of letterboxing on Dartmoor Dartmoor Toursim website – Official visitor information site for Dartmoor with all the things to see and do

More fun in Devon and Cornwall

Cliff Walks and Country Houses in Cornwall (and a bit of Devon) Hunting the Ash-Black slug on Dartmoor in Devon The Mason’s Arms at Knowstone in Devon – Michelin Staras all round

www.flickr.com

heatheronhertravels’ Devon – Dartmoor photoset

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read more travel articles at Travel Blog Home You’ll also find our sister blog with tips on how to build a successful travel blog at My Blogging Journey Don’t miss out – subscribe to Heather on her travels

Nomadic Matt’s Travel Planning Services

Nomadic Matt — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:05:41 +0000

Today, I am excited to announce a new aspect to this website – trip planning services. It’s going to be really awesome and a great way to help you further reach your travel dreams! When I started traveling, there were no big travel blogs, online guides, and few forums. Online travel wasn’t like it is today. I remember doing a lot of planning by myself, reading guidebooks, looking for any information I could find on the Internet, and visiting the occasional STA store to get some information. Now, it’s a lot easier to research your trip online with the advent of resources like blogs, online guides, apps, and YouTube videos. But I know from all the e-mails I receive that these sources are not always enough. Even after you feel you’ve learned everything, there is a still a sense of unease that can exist. There’s still an uncertainty over planning the right route, or if you picked the right hostel, or got the cheapest flight. All that information can be overwhelming. Where do you exactly start? And that’s where my new travel planning service comes in. I’m here to assist in creating a personalized travel plan for you. Consider me your own travel concierge. I will sit down with you (virtually via Skype), help plan your journey, suggest accommodations, activities, and itineraries. I’m going to walk you through everything and ease your fears. I’m going to make you ready for the road! There can be a lot of fear in travel. Talking that first step isn’t as easy for everyone. It’s easy to get lost in the sea of information you find online. I want to take the information I provide to it’s next step. I want to personally walk you through the entire process so you feel more comfortable about traveling. I am offering three ways to make that happen:

The Finding Your Way Option (Cost: $75, Value: $114) With this package, you get:

My book, “How To Travel the World On $50 USD Per Day” (Value: $14)
1 hour-long Skype planning session (Value: $100 USD)
Unlimited e-mail support and follow up

Here you will get my guide for reference and we will spend time walking through your trip and get you started planning.

The Serious Saver Package – (Cost: $200, Value: $624) Includes Package 1 plus:

Another 1.5 hours of planning with me (Value: $150 USD)
10% off with G Adventure tours (Value: $200 USD)
7% off your World Nomads insurance (Not applicable to Canadians or Americans) (Value: $50 USD)
10% discount on Eurail passes (Value: $100 USD)
10% off tours booked with Context Travel (Value: $10 USD)
Unlimited e-mail support and follow up

With this package you not only get my book but more time with me to plan your trip and $400 USD in travel discounts that you can use for your trip. You’ll save 2x the cost of this package!

The I Do the Work For You Package – (Cost: $450, Value: $1,099) Includes Package 2 plus:

Up to 4 hours of planning time (Value: $400 USD)
$75 USD round the world ticket credit from AirTreks for your trip.
I research, find, and book your flights and accommodation to ensure you the best possible price. (Value: Priceless)
Unlimited e-mail support and follow up

This is the ultimate travel package. Here I am your personal concierge. Not only do you get all those great discounts but you get me to plan your trip. After talking to you, I’ll do all the legwork to ensure you get the best possible prices. All you need to do is enjoy your trip!

P.S. – You’ll be able to upgrade to a different package anytime you want!

Why me and not a travel agent?

If you frequent my website, you know I’ve been doing this for 6 years and am full of useful information. If you just got here, let me give you some background information: I started traveling the world in 2006 and have been on the ground ever since, exploring more than 60 countries and thousands of destinations in the world. My travel advice has been featured in CNN, Budget Travel, The New York Times, Lonely Planet, BBC, Lifehacker, AOL Travel, and The Huffington Post (just to name a few). Unlike a travel agent who spends most of their days in an office, I spend my days out there exploring the world and staying up-to-date on the latest in travel and the best deals. I’m out there, living this day-to-day, so I know exactly what to do and how to do it. My constant thirst for knowledge and ways to save money leads me to always know about the latest deals, promotions, tips, and tricks! Unlike a travel agent, I won’t be making any commissions off product sales. I won’t be pushing any particular product, route, or package because of money. I’m here to help give you peace of mind. I am your counselor, your coach, your advisor. I’ll create experiences that suit your needs – using whatever company will make that happen! By the end of your time with me, I guarantee: You will feel more relaxed. You will have a better understanding of how to plan your trip. You will have a personalized itinerary. You will know how to turn my tips into action to ensure you get the best prices. You will have discount codes that will save you hundreds of dollars on your trip. You will be ready to embark on your trip with peace of mind. Plus? There is a 100% money back guarantee. If you don’t like the service or advice I’ve given you, you can get your money back within 30 days. My goal is to help you travel better, cheaper, and longer – even if I’m not the person to make that happen for you. So if you feel like you need just a bit more help planning your trip – whether it be for two weeks, two months, or two years – and would like to sit down and talk to someone, sign up for one of my packages and let someone who has had over 6 years of on-the-ground and around-the-world experience walk you through the process so when you get on that plane, your anxiety will be gone and you’ll know your getting the best value possible. I’m very excited about this. I think this is a great way to help all of your get close to realizing your travel dreams and take the trip of a lifetime! Traveling soon? Book your trip through the links below helps support this site and keep it running: Flights from Vayama | Insurance from World Nomads | Accommodation from HW | G Adventure Tours ©Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Hotel Infante Sagres, Porto (REVIEW)

Nathan Schacherer — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 06:00:51 +0000

After a long day of Port wine tasting, we finally checked into Hotel Infante Sagres, which couldn’t have given us a better ending to our day. We didn’t have to worry about the usual map confusion and spending half an hour looking for the hotel, because it was just there, right in the middle of the center in the best location of Porto city – perfect. When checking in at the reception, we were offered a glass of Port, which was very fancy, but by then we had probably had over 10 glasses of Port that day already. The luxury boutique hotel looked amazing inside, with high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, fire places and hang out lounges, and even a couch in the elevator… With a museum, two terraces, a spa, a bar and beautiful restaurant which made you feel like a royalty when having your breakfast in the morning – you can easily understand why it’s part of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World” collection. The hotel is a very elegant and traditional 5-star hotel, and we really appreciated the small details like the magazines and chocolates that were handed out every afternoon, and being surrounded by some great cafes, bars and restaurants – we never had to walk very far. If you feel like splurging out on your trip to Porto, this is definitely the place to do it, and you can’t get a more central location than this!

Hotel Infante Sagres Overview

Price: €275 (ranges from €107 and up) Website: www.hotelinfantesagres.pt (Note: Many thanks to Hotel Infante Sagres for providing our stay at their wonderful hotel – our opinions, are as always, our own.)

Belgium – Antwerp’s Parking Lot?

Nathan Schacherer — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:00:34 +0000

One thing we noticed while traveling through Belgium with VisitFlanders was that no matter where we went, the people absolutely loved their own cities. It was actually very charming to see how excited they were about their home and how much they enjoyed living here – they all thought that “their” city was the best in Belgium – but nothing could compare to what we found in Antwerp … Other Belgians tend to think of Antwerp locals as snobby and arrogant, but we decided not to make judgements before we had seen it first hand …

City of Old & New

It turns out that the people in Antwerp really do love their city, but in their opinion they’re not arrogant – they’re just telling the truth.

There is a famous saying that goes “There is Antwerp – and the rest of Belgium is just a parking lot”.

But jokes aside, we could see why they liked it so much – Antwerp, also nicknamed “T Staad” (The city, another arrogant nickname), has the best of both worlds, the best of old and new. It’s a vibrant city which is always looking for the latest trends and newest ideas, but their history and traditions will always stay close to the peoples’ hearts. Antwerp is not as beautiful as Bruges or Ghent where the Old Towns look the same as they did several hundred years ago, but Antwerp has an interesting mixture of everything, with new and modern buildings standing next to old and traditional ones.

Proud People

The people of Antwerp are, just like in the rest of Flanders, very proud of their city and history. “Antwerp is always looking for something new – whatever is new, Antwerp wants it”, says Rick, our guide who has taken us on a “fashion tour” through Antwerp’s trendiest streets, where there is a cafe in every clothing shop, and young children go to fashion academy studios to learn about fashion. There is no doubt that the people here are brought up from an early age to think in new and different ways.

He explains that because Antwerp was occupied and suppressed for such a long time, people found their liberty in other ways, like design and art, something which has stayed with them.

In between the fashion shops and high-end bakeries that Rick shows us, we find out more about the people of Antwerp and their history, from their struggles to their fortunes, legends and heroes.

Meeting The Locals

We had been paired up with a couple in Antwerp through “Comme Chez Moi“, a new website with a concept to connect travelers with locals living in the city.

After all, one of the most memorable experiences are always the people you meet. In Belgium, we had met so many wonderful and charismatic people, and Isabelle, her boyfriend and their friend were no different.

It was really fun and interesting to get a different angle of Antwerp from the one you get through guides and what you read, and getting to know the people on a different level – we definitely suggest you try the concept next time you visit Belgium. (note: Special thanks to VisitFlanders for providing our trip to Belgium – our opinions are, as always, our own)

Explore Sri Lanka in 4 Minutes

Nathan Schacherer — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:00:39 +0000

Earlier this year we spent 3 weeks traveling around Sri Lanka, a country with incredible diverse nature and the most charming people. Sri Lanka is so full of surprises and experiences, there are so many things to see and do there that we didn’t feel that 3 weeks was enough. Here is a video we made of our our 3 week trip: in under 4 minutes on video – enjoy! To read more about our time in Sri Lanka, check out the articles below:

Lima, Peru—Magic Water Circuit

Barbara Weibel — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:38:44 +0000

As my open-air double-decker tour bus turned the corner our guide pointed out Circuito Mágico del Agua, the Magic Water Circuit in Lima’s Parque de la Reserva. Named the largest fountain complex in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records, the water park features 13 fountains, including one that shoots more than 260 feet into the air. I’d only caught a glimpse of the park’s water features, but I’d seen enough to know I wanted a closer look. A week later, back in Lima after a visit to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, I partnered up with my girlfriend Karina, who lives in Lima, and we headed for a night of frolicking in the fountains. From the Magic Fountain, we made our way past the Fountain of Life and the Fountain of Traditions, pausing to admire the unique design of each before ducking through the long Tunnel of Surprises, made up of cardinal red water arches. On the other side we paused for nearly half an hour at the Labyrinth of Daydreams, a circular fountain with alternating wet and dry concentric circles. The challenge was to make it to the center without getting wet, but since there was no way to know when thewater spouts in the “wet” circles would go off, everyone got soaked. All the fountains were spectacular, but the best of show was the Fuente de la Fantasía – Fantasy Fountain – onto which a laser light show is projected three times each evening. Ballroom dancers, geometric shapes, and exploding fireworks materialized on the dancing waters, which were in turn syncopated to music.

The park is open every Wednesday through Sunday and on holidays from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the laser light shows are at 7:15, 8:15, and 9:30 p.m. each night. Enjoy an afternoon picnic lunch on the lawn, romp in the interactive fountains in your swimsuit, and stay around for the illuminated displays after dark, all for only $1.50 per person (4 Peruvian Soles). It’s the best bargain in town.

View the original post at Hole in the Donut

Vilnius, Lithuania

Nathan Schacherer — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:00:00 +0000

We had never seen so many churches in such a small place, you couldn’t walk 50 meters on the street without seeing a church. But despite having well over 65 churches to choose from, all the people seemed to gather at one specific church – the smallest one inside a gate… If you looked up above the Gate of Dawn you would actually see the chapel itself – there are no windows, just a small fence, and in the middle of the small room is a golden image of The Virgin Mary. To read more about our time in Vilnius, make sure you check out:

Vilnius, Lithuania – It’s All About Getting Married!

As We Travel - Travel Videos & Travel Blog

Traveling by train: India

Nomadic Samuel — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:14:09 +0000

Hands down it is travelling by train. I love how the train allows you to really interact with locals and take in the scenery slowly as you journey from one place to the next. I almost feel like I’m cheating when I take a flight somewhere, but they do come in handy from time to time

Recommended sight, event, or experience.

India! You won’t need to find sights, events or experiences – they’ll find you!

Riga, Latvia

Nathan Schacherer — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:00:20 +0000

If you ever visit Riga, don’t miss out on trying this so called “bread drink” made from fermented black bread called Kvass! When it comes to food, Riga topped all the other Baltic countries in quality – it was cheap, there was an abundance, and it was really good. But when it comes to attractions and beauty, I have to be honest and say that Riga wasn’t as fortunate as its neighboring capitals Vilnius or Tallinn. To read more about our time in Riga, make sure you check out:

Riga, Latvia – A Taste Of The Baltics