Adventure Cruises

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Cruise Show

Style Counsel – Whether you go on holiday in search of adventure or to be pampered, or just to relax while the kids are having fun, there’s a cruise to suit.

ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS

So you think cruising is for softies? For folk to spend idle days at sea? Well maybe it was in the past but cruising 21st-century style can be packed with adventure, visiting places it’s hard to reach on a land-based holiday, if that’s what floats your boat.

 You can get close to wildlife in the Galapagos, discover remote communities in Greenland and the Falklands, spot polar bears in the Arctic, get your chills in Antarctica, sailing past icebergs as big as houses, walking through penguin colonies, looking out for passing whales.

You can cruise the challenging Northwest Passage between Greenland and Canada, sail around Borneo or the Kimberley in Australia, or venture into the Russian Far East. Or take a voyage to Alaska for fun activities such as zip-wiring, hiking on glaciers, bear or whale-watching expeditions.

Alaska aside, these cruises are a real adventure – trips ashore are made in inflatable zodaics, in the polar regions you’ll need wellies, woollies and gloves, you’ll be cruising through ice – and a great way to learn as well, as expedition cruises have biologists, geologists and naturalists on board to talk about the flora and fauna of the places being visited.

At a glance: Adventure cruises

* Explore the most remote parts of the world.
* Get close to wildlife in the Galapagos.
* Enhance your knowledge about the polar regions.
* Have fun on Alaska’s once-in-a-lifetime excursions.
* Discover places untouched by tourism.

Find out all about Adventure Holidays afloat and much, much more only at The CRUISE Show.

Show Details:

The Telegraph CRUISE Show is the UK’s only event dedicated to discovering a world of voyages. From small boutique river boats to modern resort style ships perfect for the whole family, this is your chance to meet with over 100 cruise lines and specialist operators all under one roof – and have a great day out!

Visitors to the October shows can get up-to-date insider tips and advice from the experts, attend the informative FREE talks and participate in the exciting panel discussions, discover different ships styles and incredible destinations, find out what’s new for 2013 and also save thousands of pounds with the exclusive show-only offers!

Cruising is the fastest growing travel sector and with over 25,000 people expected to attend the two events in October, this really is an unmissable show offering inspiration and expert advice to anyone considering a holiday at sea.

The Telegraph CRUISE Show takes place in Glasgow’s SECC on 6-7 October 2012 and in Birmingham’s NEC on 20-21 October 2012.

EDITOR’S NOTES

We can arrange special discounts and competitions to win tickets, holidays and more. A selection of photographs are available for press use. For further information please contact Madeleine Herridge on 01795 844400 or madeleine@escapeevents.co.uk.

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Cliff Chapman
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The Best Bits of the Canary Islands – How to Choose

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The Canary Islands are just off the west coast of Africa and are spread over an area of less than 500km across, making island hopping easy. So, if you can’t choose which island you want to visit the most, why not use one of the bigger islands as a base and do some exploring? Here is your one-stop guide to the best bits of each island and the best ways to get around.

 

 

 

 

 

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Tenerife

Best for: If you need a holiday destination to suit a wide range of ages then Tenerife holidays are for you. From water parks to nightlife with chilled out beaches and historic cities in between, you will find activities and hotels that everyone will be happy with. The south of the island has the bigger resorts, perfect for families and groups, whilst the north of the island is slightly quieter and suits nature and sports lovers.

How to get there: Cheap flights from the UK are easy to come by all year round due to Tenerife’s perennial warm weather. The journey takes around four hours.

 Lanzarote

Best for: If you are looking for an activity holiday, then Lanzarote holidays boast the facilities for every kind of water sport and adrenaline-filled activity you could think of. From surfing to hand-gliding, Lanzarote’s volcanic landscape, warm waters and the breeze from the Atlantic provide the ideal conditions.

How to get there: You can fly from the UK to this stunning island, or get a boat across from Tenerife. The inter-island airline, Binter Airways, also operates frequent daily flights between the islands.

Gran Canaria

Best for: The beaches in Gran Canaria are world famous, especially Maspalomas. Here, there are huge sand dunes, over 17km of long golden stretches and extensive water sports facilities. You can even take a camel trek across the dunes! Playa del Ingles and Puerto Rico are also popular beach destinations in Gran Canaria.

How to get there: A four and a half hour flight from the UK, Gran Canaria makes an ideal base for an island hopping trip to the Canaries. Day trips to Tenerife by boat or plane are popular on Gran Canaria holidays.

Fuerteventura

Best for: For a luxurious sun, sea and sand holiday, head to the resort of Jandia on the south coast of the island. A wide choice of five star hotels that are right on the seafront mean that you won’t have to go far to enjoy the 32km of beaches on offer. The shopping here is good enough to impress the biggest shopaholic, and there are some amazing restaurants for luxurious lunches and decadent dinners.

How to get there: This resort is about 80 minutes from the main airport, so make sure you plan to stay here for at least a few days.

 La Gomera

Best for: Back to nature holidays and wild adventures are the order of the day in La Gomera. The dense tropical rainforests and imposing volcano in the centre of the island make it feel like you could be in Borneo rather than the Canaries!

How to get there: It is less than an hour away by boat from Tenerife and is great place to escape. The island is an unspoilt paradise, the perfect remedy after enjoying the nightlife and theme parks of the bigger islands.

 El Hierro

Best for: Walking and hiking enthusiasts should head for this volcanic wilderness to scale the impressive cliffs, explore pine forests and take in the stunning views from the Miradors (viewpoints). If you wanted to explore the underwater world, then El Hierro has a diverse marine life and attracts underwater photographers from all over the world.

How to get there: You will need to fly to either Tenerife or Gran Canaria and then get a boat over to El Hierro.

 La Palma

Best for: If you are looking for a romantic escape, then head for the Lover’s Leap on La Palma. It is legendary among the locals as a romantic spot, just 3km from the capital of the island. There are picture postcard sleepy villages perfect for romantic strolls, just part of the reason it is also known as the Isla Bonita – the beautiful island.

How to get there: You can fly directly from the UK or use Binter Airways to spend a few days here on your island-hopping trip.

So if you still can’t decide which island would be best for you, why not put together your very own island-hopping itinerary and see the best of this volcanic archipelago?

Guest Post from Emma-Louise Frost
Destination Marketer
lowcostholidays.com

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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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What Sage Cruisers Know About Combatting Sea-Sickness

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Some people get sea-sick after just looking at a picture of the ocean, while others can withstand a gale force wind in a schooner and have no problems. If you are one of those people who just cannot stand the motion of the ocean when you are on a cruise ship, then there are several tips you can take from cruise veterans who know a thing or two about calming the waves.

Prescription Medication

 

 

 

 

 

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(Image via Flickr by puuikibeach)

If you know that you get sea-sick when on a cruise ship, then you need to talk to your doctor about prescription medications that work. Alaskan cruise excursions and packages can last for a week or longer, and that can be a long time to feel continually queasy. One of the most effective prescription medications for sea-sickness is a medication called Transderm Scop. If your doctor will not write you a prescription, then pick up some Bonine over the counter and enjoy your cruise.

Natural Solutions

 

 

 

 

 

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(Image via Flickr by Vegan Feast Catering)

One of the last things a person wants to do when he feels sea-sick is eat. But there are several natural solutions that can help to ease the queasy feeling. Ginger candy or ginger cookies are often effective, and green apples have been known to do the trick as well. Adding a peppermint candy to the ginger helps even more. You can also try nibbling on crackers and sipping ginger ale soda to help calm your stomach.

Look To The Horizon

 

 

 

 

 

(Image via Flickr by jakeprzespo)

One of the simplest solutions for calming sea-sickness when it starts to come on is to get to one of the decks of the ship and stare straight towards the horizon. Even though your body is moving, your eyes are focused on the level appearance of the ocean as it meets the sky. Cruise veterans know that staring at the horizon can help to stabilize your body and fight off sea-sickness.

Drink Water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Image via Flickr by Greg Riegler Photography)

When you keep your body hydrated, it is better equipped to handle even the most subtle motions caused by a ship on the ocean. Once you get on the ship, you should start drinking water if you feel sea-sickness coming on. You should avoid drinking alcohol for the first few hours that you are on a ship because alcohol tends to dehydrate the body.

The Right Conditions

 

 

 

 

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(Image via Flickr by Justin Capolongo)

To lower your chances of getting sea-sick, avoid getting a cabin towards the top of the ship as the motion in those cabins tends to feel exaggerated. You should also avoid taking a cruise during hurricane season to prevent running into high winds that will throw the ship about.

Sea-sickness does not have to be a part of your cruise vacation. Most cruise ships have stabilizers that prevent exaggerated motion. But if you do feel a bit queasy, then there are plenty of things you can do to fight back the sickness and get on with your cruise.

Resources:

http://www.goddesscruise.com/SeaSick.htm
http://www.squidoo.com/about-getting-sea-sick-on-a-cruise
http://www.hmlanding.com/maldemar.htm
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/prevent-motion-sickness-cruise-1777.html

Miles Young is a freelance blogger who specializes in travel, vacations, camping and anything in between. … View full profile

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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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Norway Puts the Fun Back In Driving

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When did all the joy go out of getting behind the wheel? There was a time when people went for a drive just for the pleasure of moving, of hurtling through scenery with the wind in their hair. Nowadays, driving is all confused with delays, rage and expense, but those of us hankering for a bit of four-wheeled fun and adventure are heading to Norway.

The top three drives are:

3. Trollstigen Mountain Road

This narrow, nerve-shattering road is one of the oldest and most famous in Norway. Built in the 1930’s when engineers lacked the power tools available to today’s labourers, this route is a real compromise between man and the mountain. Snaking its way up steep mountainsides, through 11-hairpin bends, past waterfalls and terrifying outcrops, this is the drive of a lifetime and it’s not even No.1 on the list.

 

 

2. Lysevegen Road

This route takes you from the small town of Lysebotn, a place that could only communicate with the outside world by boat prior to the building of this road in 1984, all the way to Sirdal. The truly spectacular journey begins with a 1,100 metre curved tunnel through a mountain before you rejoin daylight and take on the narrow, 27-hairpin bend ascent all the way up to the Øygardstøl Panorama Restaurant. Pull in here, look down and marvel at the route you’ve just taken.
Only from up high can you grasp the beauty of the road you’ve just conquered. The mountains and fjords are pretty nice too – definitely worth picking up a Norway car hire deal and experiencing this place first-hand.

1. Atlantic Road

It’s difficult to rank Norway’s roads; the curves, the ascents, the challenges and of course the views from them make them all worthy of a mention, but the Atlantic Road is simply the King. This route joins the two towns of Mold and Kristiensund and connects several small islands en route. The looping, bridge-style engineering of these connections makes for a drive that can only be described as a rollercoaster ride over the sea. Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle. Voted as one of the best drives in the world by anyone with a poll, frequently used in car ads and declared as the ‘Norwegian Construction of the Century’, this is the drive that puts the delight back in driving.

All of these drives can be done in a weekend but time is limited, all routes are subject to closures when the Winter arrives so treat yourself, book a flight, hire a car and hit the open (bendy, scary, thrilling) road.

This is a guest post.

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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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Last-minute Summer Deals

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To encourage last-minute, late-summer bookings, a stack of holiday companies have dropped prices on departures from now until 21 September. We’ve found cruises, city breaks and beach holidays, with savings of up to 55%.
Here’s our pick of the hottest deals on offer.
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£56 & up — Luxury UK & Irish Villas on Sale, Save 25%
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£199 — Brussels & Bruges Hilton Break w/Eurostar, £109 Off

£285 — North Cyprus: Week in the Sun, Save 49%

£86 & up — Seaside Breaks at UK Holiday Parks

£399 — Gambia: 5-Star African Beach Week, Save 47%

£1499 — Last-Minute 28-Nt Canada Cruise, Save £1800

£395 — Luxury UK Train Journeys w/Free London Hotel Stay

£1299 & up — 10-Night Florida Tour w/Excursions, £360 Off

£299 — 5-Night Summer Cruise to France & the British Isles

£1479 — 13-Nt Triple-Centre Vietnam Holiday, Save £1026

More info at http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/deals/summer/

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Cliff Chapman
www.traveljunkies.com
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Best Ski Team For The Job

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Whilst most of us are reliving summer holiday memories, sharing photos with friends and trying to prolong our sun tans, ski companies are well into the swing of things planning for winter.

One of the common misconceptions of ski companies is that they only work during winter. In actual fact all the behind-the-scenes things are done throughout summer leaving them free to focus on customers and ski related aspects during the winter.

The summer months are largely spent recruiting the winter staff; finding new properties to offer as guest accommodation for the following winter; maintaining existing buildings and plenty of industry networking, sales and marketing.

Of all these aspects, staff recruitment is one of the most crucial things to consider for ski operators as holidays are made by great staff and ruined by terrible ones. Everyone has a horror story about chalet hosts too hung-over to feed them properly or the terror of being driven by young drivers smelling of last night’s booze. In order to avoid these issues and get the very best staff, reputable ski companies start advertising for staff as early as late May or early June and then go through a rigourous interview process, often incorporating phone interviews, followed by face-to-face interviews including role plays, scenarios and very searching questions. Whilst it is well known that there is a lot of competition for ski jobs amongst seasonaires, ski companies can also find themselves vying with other operators in order to secure the best applicants. Competition is tough to find the right staff for the job.

Hopefully, though, by the end of this process – maybe as soon as early September – the ideal staff are chosen, training dates are in the diary and ski operators can continue with their other pre-season jobs secure in the knowledge that this season’s guests will be able to enjoy an exceptional holiday hosted by the best people for the job.

At Ski Weekender we pride ourselves on having the best team we can find to ensure the quality of our customer service, our chalets, the airport transfers, the food and our ski hosting are maintained, if not bettered, year on year.

So now we’ve recruited our fantastic new team for winter, which includes some old faces too, we have changed our focus to recruiting guests to enjoy this top quality service!

Visit our website www.skiweekender.com to find out all the information you need about our short ski and snowboard breaks in France, as well as meeting our great team on the About Us page.

For full details visit www.skiweekender.com; email info@skiweekender.com or call us on 0845 557 5983.

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Posted by Jess at karibuni.co.uk
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Cliff Chapman
traveljunkies
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