Just back from Samoa. Leaving Aggie Grey's Hotel at 1.30 a.m makes it a long trip home. The usually Four hours in the plane was delayed as an elderly passenger was finally taken off the flight suffering from ill health.
We were a little disappointed with a couple of issues we had. The first was just a small one. Being members of the Air New Zealand Koru Club, we do get a special check in station. But.......it is so slow that it is perhaps better to use the normal Check In queue.There is also no special seating on the plane as there is from New Zealand, where you are given the front seats.However, we are certainly very pleased with the ease from the New Zealand end.
The second disappointment was to do with a rental car we hired and paid for online .After booking the package at the Air New Zealand site, information was given about rental cars with Discovery Rentals in Samoa. My husband paid NZ$300 online. There was NO mention of any other costs. On arriving at their office at Faleolo Airport there was a quite different scenario. Firstly you need to pay for a temporary license to drive in Samoa. It costs $12 tala!They were charging $25 tala extra - $35 tala total.....to write up this license!
Next, we were told there was an extra $165 tala cost for taking the car too and from the airport! Then......they wanted a $500 tala fee in case there was any damage. This was not just taking a credit card number, this was actually fronting up with $500 tala. When my husband spoke to the manager - her words were "If you don't like it go somewhere else.....this is our company policy." Needless to say, we left it! And will now have to get our NZ$300 dollars reimbursed!We hired a car from Avis for $200 tala in Apia! And paid the $12 tala for the license.Fortunately we discovered we had free transfers to and from the airport with our package at Aggie's. This was excellent.
Apart from these hick ups it was an enjoyable few days in Samoa. More on that tomorrow.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Czech Republic is More than Just Prague
The Czech Republic is a fascinating travel destination.But I find so many tourists have never ventured beyond Prague. Prague is a very beautiful city, and it does have a huge amount to keep you interested. But there are so many lovely towns and cities around the Czech Republic it seems a shame to miss them. You may need to allow a little more time. But distances are not great.
Two places I highly recommend are Cesky Krumlov, easily reached by train or bus. This gorgeous historic town can be a little inundated with tourists, but it somehow still retains it's charm. The cobbled streets, too narrow for vehicles, makes it a place to walk in comfort. The sherbert houses, castle, river, gardens and shops stocked with a range of Czech crafts, jewellery, and other wares......... all add to the old world ambiance.
North of Prague near the German border you will find Karlovy Vary.The Czech Republic's biggest spa town. This is another very different experience, and you could do it in a day trip from Prague if time is short. We happily filled three days here, with walks in the forests, and around the town sampling mineral waters at the taps.
This was topped off by an amazing experience seeing an outdoor opera performance at Loket Castle, about 12 kilometres away.
Two places I highly recommend are Cesky Krumlov, easily reached by train or bus. This gorgeous historic town can be a little inundated with tourists, but it somehow still retains it's charm. The cobbled streets, too narrow for vehicles, makes it a place to walk in comfort. The sherbert houses, castle, river, gardens and shops stocked with a range of Czech crafts, jewellery, and other wares......... all add to the old world ambiance.
North of Prague near the German border you will find Karlovy Vary.The Czech Republic's biggest spa town. This is another very different experience, and you could do it in a day trip from Prague if time is short. We happily filled three days here, with walks in the forests, and around the town sampling mineral waters at the taps.
This was topped off by an amazing experience seeing an outdoor opera performance at Loket Castle, about 12 kilometres away.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the Cheap
Back in 1973 when I travelled overland through Africa, I hadn't actually given much thought to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. So when the idea was suggested as we travelled into Kenya, I tossed up.........did I want to do this. None of us had any special clothing, or equipment, which was a bit of a concern. However, ever the one who loves to do something a bit different, I decided I would take on the challenge.
Fifteen of us set off, on what was effectively a private tour. That is....our driver had organised some local village porters to carry our gear, and cook our meals. We had only planned on two meals a day, as we had little dried food, rice etc that was suitable for the porters to carry.Soup and rice was pretty much it! The vision of fresh tomatoes became a motivator for my quick home trip down the mountain!
You can find out the full details of that trek at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/mount-kilimanjaro.html
This was probably one of the cheapest group expeditions ever! And for some of us who did it in four days, it was faster than most too.But eleven of us made it to the top, and I continue to find it fascinating reading of others who have gone after me!
The dream lives on!
Fifteen of us set off, on what was effectively a private tour. That is....our driver had organised some local village porters to carry our gear, and cook our meals. We had only planned on two meals a day, as we had little dried food, rice etc that was suitable for the porters to carry.Soup and rice was pretty much it! The vision of fresh tomatoes became a motivator for my quick home trip down the mountain!
You can find out the full details of that trek at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/mount-kilimanjaro.html
This was probably one of the cheapest group expeditions ever! And for some of us who did it in four days, it was faster than most too.But eleven of us made it to the top, and I continue to find it fascinating reading of others who have gone after me!
The dream lives on!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Cuba fast becoming a popular Fascinating Travel Destination
Cuba is becoming a very popular travel destination.As Fidel Castro has relinquished the reigns of Cuba to his brother Raoul, there is an expectation that things are about to change. This expectation is further fueled, by the change of US President. It is expected that soon it will once again be easy for American citizens to visit Cuba.
My husband and I visited this fascinating country and got caught up in Hurricane Wilma! Despite the weather,which did restrict our movements a little, we found it different to any other country we had ever been to.Havana, clearly once a very beautiful city, is crumbling.However, they have a restoration programme under way, and I fully expect that in a few years, this city will once again be stunning. There are already many very lovely old colonial buildings, houses, museums etc.
Trinidad was my favourite town with its cobbled streets, and sherbet houses.You can read about it at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/trinidad-cuba.html
The people are really what makes Cuba the truly fascinating travel destination it is. Music pours from every bar and restaurant, and the bands and their members can be seen wandering through the streets, double bass slung over the shoulder.The bands invariably feature three generations. We saw a teenage boy sitting on the Malecon sea wall, practicing his trombone. Often dancing by accomplished, elegant couples, accompanies the music. The minstrels wander on their stilts through the city, easily picked out by the vivid colours they are wearing. Every band sells their signature C.D's as a money spinner.
Many characters roam the streets, dressed in a wardrobe from another era, sometimes a fat cigar hanging from their lips.Yes, some will bale you up to sell you dud cigars, newspapers, or ask you for money for "milk for their babies" although they clearly have no babies to give the milk to.
The old cars we see pictures of, do exist in abundance. Parked on the streets. Or on the sides of country roads..........where they have died, so now the bonnet is up the owner's head lost in the depths, as they try to restore life to the ancient motor! This will change, once life improves for these people. At present it is tough.
With a dual currency, those involved in any form of tourism who are paid with convertible pesos, are more comfortably off than those who have to survive on the
ordinary peso, which is worth almost nothing.
For travellers who are keen to visit Cuba while it remains in a time warp, you will find it a unique experience.You will find all the important information about accommodation, travel,weather, getting around at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/information-on-cuba.html
My husband and I visited this fascinating country and got caught up in Hurricane Wilma! Despite the weather,which did restrict our movements a little, we found it different to any other country we had ever been to.Havana, clearly once a very beautiful city, is crumbling.However, they have a restoration programme under way, and I fully expect that in a few years, this city will once again be stunning. There are already many very lovely old colonial buildings, houses, museums etc.
Trinidad was my favourite town with its cobbled streets, and sherbet houses.You can read about it at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/trinidad-cuba.html
The people are really what makes Cuba the truly fascinating travel destination it is. Music pours from every bar and restaurant, and the bands and their members can be seen wandering through the streets, double bass slung over the shoulder.The bands invariably feature three generations. We saw a teenage boy sitting on the Malecon sea wall, practicing his trombone. Often dancing by accomplished, elegant couples, accompanies the music. The minstrels wander on their stilts through the city, easily picked out by the vivid colours they are wearing. Every band sells their signature C.D's as a money spinner.
Many characters roam the streets, dressed in a wardrobe from another era, sometimes a fat cigar hanging from their lips.Yes, some will bale you up to sell you dud cigars, newspapers, or ask you for money for "milk for their babies" although they clearly have no babies to give the milk to.
The old cars we see pictures of, do exist in abundance. Parked on the streets. Or on the sides of country roads..........where they have died, so now the bonnet is up the owner's head lost in the depths, as they try to restore life to the ancient motor! This will change, once life improves for these people. At present it is tough.
With a dual currency, those involved in any form of tourism who are paid with convertible pesos, are more comfortably off than those who have to survive on the
ordinary peso, which is worth almost nothing.
For travellers who are keen to visit Cuba while it remains in a time warp, you will find it a unique experience.You will find all the important information about accommodation, travel,weather, getting around at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/information-on-cuba.html
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Another Samoa trip
Well, I had not expected I would be returning to Samoa so soon. 24th March we will go for a 4 day package. This is great as it will give me chance to stay at Aggie Grey's and report back both here and on my website about staying at the the hotel as a guest.
Samoa is such a beautiful country, it will be lovely to return.
I have already put many pages about Samoa on my website at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/travel-to-samoa.html These include information on excellent hotel accommodation, restaurants - I was so surprised at the improvement in restaurants and hotels in Apia. When we lived there in the mid 1980's there was very little apart from Aggie's and the Tusitala, and only one reasonable restaurant, now gone.
I have included a page on sightseeing and put my first slideshow on it. I am not so happy with the slideshow. I am looking for something a little more refined and elegant.
But it is a wonderful way of displaying a lot of lovely photos for a good look at fascinating travel destinations.
Samoa is such a beautiful country, it will be lovely to return.
I have already put many pages about Samoa on my website at http://www.fascinating-travel-destinations.com/travel-to-samoa.html These include information on excellent hotel accommodation, restaurants - I was so surprised at the improvement in restaurants and hotels in Apia. When we lived there in the mid 1980's there was very little apart from Aggie's and the Tusitala, and only one reasonable restaurant, now gone.
I have included a page on sightseeing and put my first slideshow on it. I am not so happy with the slideshow. I am looking for something a little more refined and elegant.
But it is a wonderful way of displaying a lot of lovely photos for a good look at fascinating travel destinations.
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