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A hassle-free, low-impact luxury camping holiday for families and romantics
By Ching Lee
It’s not difficult to see why glamping is all the rage. Luxury camping combines home comforts with the freedom of the great outdoors; it’s a winning formula for families (and romantics) who are looking for a hassle-free, low-impact holiday with a difference.
Your Travel Planner is back from a glorious week in the Ardèche, France. With proper beds, stylish shower rooms, dinner provided and the stunning location of the Ardèche Gorge and Nature Reserve, the yurt holiday provided by Canvaschic is an exceptional outdoor experience for people who want to enjoy home comforts while camping.
After a day’s travelling, arriving at the camp feels like entering a haven. Even in the height of August, the camp feels peaceful and discreet and, best of all, we knew we didn’t have to worry about cooking; your week’s stay during July and August includes breakfast and five nights dinner.
The Yurts
The dome-shaped family yurts are handcrafted from oak and ash wood and covered in natural canvas. The tents are well-spaced throughout the forest and each yurt has its own deck and hammocks giving guests their own relaxed, private area.
There are 9 family yurts and three other more secluded yurts for couples can be found further into the oak forest.
Inside, each of the 12 yurts are individually styled. The family yurt is spacious, with a king-size bed, 2 camp beds for children and a portable style wardrobe. Decorative touches such Moroccan lamps, tealights, mirrors and pictures add to the homely atmosphere.
Shower Rooms
There are 5 spacious shower rooms in the shower block, each with a shower, toilet and washbasin…and there’s no need to bring soap if you don’t want to as locally produced, biodegradeable Savon de Marseille is provided in dispensers in the shower rooms.
Dinner with room to play
It’s a real luxury not to have to cook when you’re on holiday (though guests in the family yurts also have access to a fully equipped kitchen tent). At Mille Etoiles, breakfast and 5 nights dinner (Mediterranean style vegetarian buffet, using locally sourced produce, with one barbeque night) takes place on the outdoor terrace/restaurant and is included in the week’s stay in July and August. The bar offers drinks, local wines and even ice-creams for the children, charged as extra.
For both parents and children, it’s a wonderfully relaxing dinner experience, when you can eat and the children can go and play (within safe view) in between courses. There’s a swing and climbing frame, a pirate boat, a ping pong table, a small plunge pool…and even nets for catching butterflies and grasshoppers!
Things to Do
The Ardèche offers a huge array of things to do for holidaymakers - canoeing, forest adventure and zipwires, shopping in local markets, exploring caves, dining in superb local restaurants, but the hidden gem of staying at Milles Etoiles is the trail from the camp that leads down to the Ardèche Gorge.
After a steep 30 minute walk through the forest, the 35km Ardèche river meandering through spectacular limestone cliffs is a breathtaking sight. All the Mille Etoiles guests agreed that the gorge provided a fantastic, natural bathing area that had something for everyone: younger children were happy with their fishing nets, older children (and adults!) enjoyed jumping off the rocks and cooling off in the fresh water.
Things to Note
- The beds for children are camp beds and these may not suit everyone. One of the guests did end up purchasing an airbed!
- The walk down to the gorge is steep and rocky in places, so sensible shoes are required ie. no flip flops! Swim shoes or jelly shoes are useful for the rocks in the river.
- Each yurt is provided with its own solar lamp, but it’s useful to bring your own torch too.
For more information, visit the Canvaschic website. If you like the idea of a glamping holiday and need need help planning your trip, please feel free to contact me, Ching Lee, at Go2 Holiday Research, www.go2research.com.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Responsible Tourism, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Activity Holiday, Glamping, South of France, Yurt|No Comments
The latest information from the Icelandic Meteorological Office indicate that the Eyjafjallajökull volcano is currently in a ‘paused’ phase ie. no longer emitting ash but only steam. However, volcanoes are only regarded as being dormant if they are ‘paused’ for three months.
With the massive disruption to UK travellers recently, Your Travel Planner has researched and called travel insurance companies to see which policies are offering specific cover for volcanic ash clouds.
Here’s what we found. Look out for the policies that will cover you to make alternative travel arrangements home:
Remember: You’re covered for cancellation from the date that you take out your policy, not the date that your holiday starts. So whatever the volcano news in the months to come, you’re covered for cancellation. BUT,you won’t be covered if you take out a policy during an airspace ban.
Aviva Travel Insurance
Cancellation and Enforced Stay Abroad (alternative travel arrangements home)
Aviva recently launched an optional add-on to their standard travel insurance policies, to provide cover for any future event causing a closure of airspace, airports or ports. This optional upgrade is £10 per person on an annual policy and £5 per person on a single trip policy.
This cover means you will be able to claim for cancellation of your trip if airspace, airport/port is closed for more than 24 hours from the time stated on your travel ticket.
A section called Enforced Stay Abroad has also been added which covers you if you can’t return home due to the closure of airspace or an airport/port. The cover provides £100 per person for each 24 hour period (to a maximum of £1500) that you are unable to return home OR if you need to make your own way home after a 24 hour delay (and the carrier or handling agent has been unable to offer you suitable alternative travel arrangements), Aviva will pay you up to £1,000 per person for reasonable and necessary additional travel expenses that you incur.
Columbus Direct
Travel delay, abandonment and Emergency Travel Upgrade (alternative travel arrangements home)
Columbus Direct will cover to travel delay and abandonment if the policy was taken out when there was no airspace ban.
They have also added a new “Emergency Travel Upgrade” as an option on its gold and silver policy ranges. This helps passengers pay for alternative ways home in case of being stranded overseas. The upgrade costs £20 per policy and reimburses up to £4,000 of expense.
More details can be found here.
M&S Travel Insurance
Independent Traveller option (accommodation only for getting home)
M&S travel insurance policies are underwritten by AXA, who are only providing cover under the optional Independent Traveller section. If you’re stuck abroad, this section covers you for accommodation only, with the assumption that the airlines will cover the flights. Independent Traveller cover is optional, but included in M&S’s annual policies. Other expenses incurred such as food and beverage will not be covered.
Direct Travel Insurance
Delayed departure or abandonment
A company that honoured claims for ash cloud, Direct Travel say they are continuing to consider the ash cloud as “adverse weather”. missed or delayed departure or abandonment, to cover accommodation and transport that cannot be recovered from another source.
Depending on your policy, the benefit of cover is upto £350 for delayed departure, upto £6,000 for abandonment and upto £1000 for missed departure. If you are stranded abroad due to travel disruption, Direct Travel will automatically extend your policy period until you return home, at no extra cost.
However, Direct Travel are not covering additional repatriation costs ie. alternative travel arrangements to get home.
World First
Travel delay and abandonment
World First are covering the ash cloud under travel delay and abandonment. Travel delay provides £25 for the first 12 hours and then £10 thereafter, to a maximum of £100 per person. After 24 hours you can then claim under abandonment. Policyholders who become stuck abroad due to any new event will have their policies automatically extended until the next available flight is offered.
To keep up-to-date with this changing travel insurance situation, Your Travel Planner recommends moneymaxim who is keeping their site updated with the latest situation.
Filed under: Travel News, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | Iceland volcano, travel insurance, volcanic ash cloud|No Comments
Here’s another review for Your Travel Planner readers from Annette Kirkley, a therapeutic, sports and remedial masseuse and fellow local networker.
This time, she recommends this delightful agritourismo in Puglia, Italy:
Agriturismo Masseria Aprile in Locorotondo, Puglia is an old 18th century “masseria” farmhouse to which traditional “trulli” rooms have been added. The agritourismo is surrounded by its own fields of olive trees, vines and animals, with a beautiful view of the small town of Locorotondo perched on the hill. At 1 kilometre south of the town, it’s a perfect distance to wander up to explore the town, which has beautiful whitewashed baroque buildings, and eat a meal before walking back.
The Aprile family are very hospitable and sometimes invite guests to join them for dinner, after the opportunity to have a go at making the local pasta. We were also lucky enough to witness the first pressing, by hand, of their red grapes in traditional barrels. The daughter, Stephania, runs the business and speaks good English.
The accomodation is good, with great, home-baked food for breakfast, and lots of laughter (mostly at our Italian!) There is plenty of space for children to run around in, all in all a perfect place to just chill out, or to explore the many interests of the surrounding area if you have a car. This is a very unspoilt, undiscovered part of Puglia.
See Annette’s review for Your Travel Planner of Viglatoras Apartments, Crete here. If you have a review of your favourite place, why not share it with Your Travel Planner. Please contact me at www.go2research.com/contact_Go2.php.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Agritourism, Italy|No Comments
I recently wrote a guest blogpost for Trish Gant’s Little Gems Photography blog and thought Your Travel Planner readers would find it useful too…
The Easter holidays are upon us. If you’re looking for last-minute things to do for families over Easter, here are some suggestions from Your Travel Planner:
Easter Egg Hunts
Which child does not love an Easter Egg Hunt? Cadbury are supporting the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland’s Easter Egg Trails for the 3rd year running. Properties close to London:
Claremont Landscape Garden, Surrey; 2 & 3 April, 11am to 4pm; Polesden Lacey, Surrey; 2-5 April, 10 am to 5pm; Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire; 2-5 April, 10am to 4pm; Morden Park Hall, London; 5 April, 11am to 3pm
Days Out
There’s more Easter fun to be had on a day out. Join in the Easter Garden Trail at Wisley Gardens, Surrey on 2-5 April.
Kew Gardens’ new tree-themed outdoor play area opens this Easter. Children (between 3 and 11 years old) can climb up ladders, brave wobbly rope bridges and fly down zip wires.
London Wetland Centre has a packed programme of Easter activities for children. See the adorable newly hatched ducklings take their first swim, plus Easter egg hunts, pond dipping, puppeteers and storytelling.
It’s Easter lambing time at Bocketts Farm Park. 300 lambs are due - including 35 sets of triplets! Join in the Easter Egg Hunt Trail which will be happening every day throughout the holidays.
Theatre
Try some local theatre this Easter. The New Wimbledon Theatre still has tickets left for the last few performances of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (until 3 April). Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play is on at The Polka Theatre, Wimbledon until 15 May (suitable for 4-7 year olds) and under 3’s can enjoy Egg and Spoon (until 10 April), a multi-sensory, interactive journey through the seasons.
Short Breaks and Holidays
Grab a last minute staycation. Haven Holidays seem to have plenty of availability during Easter, prices from £134* for 4 nights. Or how about a place recognised for its lower environmental impact? Mazzard Farm in Devon, awarded Gold by the Green Tourism Business Scheme, have 3 options left during Easter, including Russett Cottage (sleeps 4)). Available 9-12 April for a long weekend, original price £345, now £225*.
*Please note that all prices and availability shown are correct at the time of writing (1 April 2010).
Filed under: Destinations, UK & Ireland, Uncategorized | Easter Holidays, Things to Do|No Comments
Zakynthos, or Zante as it is more commonly known, is the most southerly of the Ionian Islands. Its beautiful scenery and excellent sandy beaches make it an ideal holiday destination.
But while the 18-30s brigade head to Laganas, the biggest and busiest resort, I was in search of a more natural Zakynthos, somewhere where my children could see for themselves the importance of travelling responsibly.
As one of the last nesting sites of the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Carreta-carreta, the Gerakas Peninsula is the first protected Marine Park in the Mediterranean. Google ‘relaxing holidays’ and you’ll find a group of villas, cottages and studios in the peaceful, south-eastern tip of Zakynthos.
Managed by Yannis Vardakastanis, an ardent conservationist who grew up on Gerakas, Ionian Eco Villagers provides a quieter, more tranquil alternative, away from the mass tourist resorts.
The verdict: a simple and relaxing break in an enchanting part of Zakynthos.
Ionian Eco Villagers is ideal for families and couples seeking a ‘get away from it all’ holiday with a difference.
With the picture-perfect beach, a few tavernas and a mini market only a 200m stroll away from your accommodation, there’s no real need to go anywhere else if you’re after the simplest of holidays.
Accommodation: We stayed in one of the four 2-bedroom apartments in Gerakas House. Our upstairs apartment was simply, but comfortably furnished. A double bedroom, a twin bedroom, 2 shower rooms and a kitchen, it’s ideal for a family of four. Each bedroom is air conditioned and both have a balcony with table and chairs where you could sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The kitchen is equipped with a twin hotplate, toaster/sandwich maker, a fridge, an electric kettle and enough utensils and pans to make a simple meal. The garden with olive and citrus trees offers a relaxing alternative to the beach, with its sun-loungers, hammocks and even swings for the more energetic.
Places to Eat/Shops: The 3 tavernas/bars and mini market are a short stroll from the villas and apartments. The tavernas offer excellent, traditional Greek food and the mini market was surprisingly well stocked; as well as food provisions, it was a useful place to get ice creams and inflatables!
Leisure Activities: Gerakas Beach is a stunning, natural beach. With clear waters and soft sand, this shallow beach is ideal for young families.
Away from the beach, the spectacular scenery and rural charm makes Gerakas the perfect place for mountain biking and walking whether you are a serious walker or just fancy a relaxing stroll.
A highlight is to join one of the eco-tourism catamaran cruises (bookable though the Earth Sea & Sky Information Centre) and enjoy a day cruising in the southern waters of Zakynthos, visiting stunning snorkelling sites. There is a chance to spot the turtles, but, as a ‘sensitive’ tour, the crew makes sure that the rules of the National Marine Park are adhered to eg. stay for a maximum of 10 minutes if a turtle is spotted.
The Information Centre, set up by Yannis, was a great place for us and the children to learn about the Loggerhead Turtles and their plight to survive. Guests and tourists are encouraged to find out more about the turtles and other endangered species.
Service: Yannis is always on hand to help you with any aspect of your stay. One big plus is that your booking with Ionian Eco Villagers includes transfers on arrival/departure, so there really isn’t a need to hire a car. As the tavernas and mini market are family run, the welcome we received was wonderfully warm.
Best time to go: May, June or September, outside the turtle egg hatching months, when the weather is warm (25°C) and there are less crowds. The hottest, busy summer months of July/August are peak season for visitors and daytrippers. Although the National Marine Park limits your stay on the beach to 3 hours in Summer to protect the buried turtle eggs, it’s probably best to avoid this time altogether.
Why choosing this holiday makes a difference:
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By choosing to stay in these locally-owned, small, individual villas and apartments, you are helping local families to make a living. With mass tourism all too evident in Zakynthos, the temptation to sell their land to developers is never too far away, further endangering the survival of the Caretta-caretta.
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Many of the villas and apartments are solar- or wind- powered and use energy-efficient lightbulbs.
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£10 from your booking is donated to Earth Sea & Sky to support their impressive work in protecting the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead turtles.
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Your further donations will also help the current development of a Sea Turtle Hospital in Zakynthos, which will drastically cut the transport time for injured turtles.
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The Earth Sea & Sky Information Centre is a great education for visitors, adults and children alike, on why we should think more responsibly when making travel choices.
Gerakas was week 1 of a two week trip in Summer 2009, part holiday, part research, to explore how feasible and enjoyable a green family summer holiday could be. More on the rest of this trip, including how to get to and from Zakynthos, to follow.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, Uncategorized | Apartments, Beach holiday, Green Places|1 Comment
I was recently reminded of how impressive the transit facilities are at Hong Kong airport and thought that Your Travel Planner readers might like some ideas for things to do in transit at the world’s best airports.
First up, the ever popular Singapore Changi:
Singapore Changi was voted third best airport in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2009. So, if you have 5 hours to kill, what can Singapore Changi offer passengers in transit?
- Head to the Free Singapore Tour Booths and join a 2-hour FREE sightseeing tour of Singapore. Registration is based on first-come-first-serve basis and you can choose between the Colonial or Cultural Tour.
- Take a refreshing dip at the rooftop open air swimming pool, or a leisurely stroll in the Cactus, Heliconia and Sunflower gardens
- Catch up on sleep in a choice of sleeping lounges or in the transit hotel. Rates from S$10 per person per hour
- Visit the Entertainment Deck for free gaming (PC, Xbox and Playstation) or relax in the music area, MTV booth or cinema
- If you have the energy, work your way through more than 300 shops and places to eat
More transit facilities in Hong Kong and Seoul Incheon airports soon. Meanwhile, do you have any transit experiences or recommendations at these or other airports?
Filed under: Travel Tips, Uncategorized | Singapore Changi Airport|No Comments
Happy New Year Everyone!
The travel industry kicks off the New Year with some great offers for 2010. See the new Special Offers page on Your Travel Planner for more details.
Your Travel Planner looks forward to providing more travel news, reviews, experiences and tips in 2010.
Filed under: Uncategorized | |No Comments
Someone asked me the other day whether Sweden was a good destination for a family holiday. The answer is a resounding ‘Yes’.
Sweden is a fantastic summer holiday destination, offering interesting cities combined with exceptional natural scenery. It’s very child-friendly, has an agreeable summer climate and is only 2 hours away by plane. A week in the city could be combined with a week exploring the nature and wildlife that Sweden has to offer.
Compared to southern Europe, Sweden is expensive, but there are ways you can reduce the hit on your pocket and with the Swedish Kroner around 12.9 SEK to the British Pound, it’s not as expensive as it was last year.
So what are the Things to Do for a family holiday in Sweden?
Both Sweden’s archipelagic capital, Stockholm, and its second city Gothenburg offer city sightseeing at a relaxed pace, with plenty to do with the children and great cultural sights to see for the adults.
Stockholm
Stockholm is a most beautiful capital city, built on 14 islands. The Old Town is particularly spectacular, and walking around the city’s waterways and parks is a lovely way to spend a week. It can also be a lively city, with its maritime bent and international flavour. Recommended things to do include:
- Gamla Stan: take a stroll through the narrow streets of the old town
- Gröna Lund Tivoli: a great (though not cheap) theme park on the relaxed island of Djurgården
- Stockholm Archipelago: you can take a boat trip to the many islands on the archipelago.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is a cosmopolitan city with a small town charm. It’s a compact city to get around and has plenty to see and do. Recommended things to do include:
- Paddan Boats: These open-topped boats will take you through the old Moat, under 20 bridges and on 17th century canals, giving a unique view of the city and its open harbour.
- Liseberg: a great amusement park on the edge of the city centre (use the city’s extensive tram network to get there). It has 36 rides and attractions - from gentle carousels to heart-in-the-mouth rides such as Uppswinget, Kanonen and Balder (voted several times the “Best Wooden Roller Coaster in the World”).
- Universeum: a fantastic museum to experience the Ocean, the Rain Forest and Space all in one day.
If you’d like to learn more about Sweden as a family holiday destination, please feel free to contact me at www.go2research.com/contact_Go2.php.
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Uncategorized | Family Holiday, Stockholm, Sweden, Things to Do Stockholm|No Comments
This year, it’s even more important to make your holiday money go further. Your Travel Planner has been exploring this and outlines 5 ways to get the most of you holiday money and make it work harder while you’re on holiday:
- For cash, it’s best to pre-order rather than exchange at the airport. I checked for US dollars today and both Thomas Global Exchange and the Post Office offer 0% commission and competitive exchange rates. Both offer an online service and you can opt to collect at a branch or have your currency delivered to your door (charges apply).
- If you like the convenience of picking up your currency at the airport, it’s still better to pre-order and collect from one of the exchange bureaus at the airport rather than buying it on the day.
- You can pay heavily for making purchases with your credit card overseas. The benefit though is that credit cards do offer some consumer protection for purchases over £100. At the moment, credit cards from the Post Office and Nationwide offer 0% commission on purchases overseas. However, from 6 May 2009, Nationwide will charge 0.84% and then 1% from 1 July 2009. This is still better than the 2.75% that most other credit cards charge.
- Using your credit card to withdraw cash while you are abroad is one of the most expensive ways to buy currency. Better to have a Nationwide Flexaccount; their Visa Debit card has 0% commission on withdrawals and no ATM fees. However, from 1 June 2009, Nationwide will charge 0.84% and then 1% from 1 July 2009. Checking the Visa exchange rate before you withdraw your cash could also save you pounds.
- Another cheaper alternative for withdrawing cash oveerseas is to use a Prepaid card. You load your card with a set amount of money, and use it just like a credit or debit card. Cash withdrawals from an ATM are normally cheaper than most credit or debit cards. Exchange rates are competitive too. CaxtonFX have had a lot of press or try FairFX for more details.
The starting point for Your Travel Planner’s research on “Ways to save holiday money” was Martin Lewis’ fantastic website www.moneysavingexpert.com. It’s full of ideas on how to save money on absolutely anything, including holiday and travel money.
Filed under: Saving Money on 2009 Holidays, Travel Tips, Uncategorized | Savings on holiday money|No Comments
With Mother’s Day only 5 days away (22nd March this year for the UK), this review from Alison Carter, from Optimum Vitality came just in time. Alison is a Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist, so she knows a thing or two about spas…
My husband and I discovered Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa when he whisked me away for a ‘de-stress’, 5 weeks before our wedding in 2007; we have been back 5 times since then! Why? You can relax in the intimate & beautiful surroundings of the spa, indulge in a sensational 3 course dinner in their Tudor restaurant with excellent service, take a walk by the lake as you watch the bunny rabbits hopping about on the lawn…all for the incredible price of £114* per couple for dinner bed and breakfast on a Sunday evening. You can also get an excellent and reasonably priced massage in the spa. Other facilities include a 16m swimming pool, gym and outdoor tennis.
Situated in Surrey, on the borders of Hampshire and West Sussex, Lythe Hill Hotel and Spa is only 50 minutes by train from London Waterloo and 45-50 mins from London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports.
Overall Verdict: A fantastic getaway spa at a fantastic price.
*£114 per room per night is a special Sunday promotion that gives 50% of the Leisure Break rate. The offer includes Dinner, Bed and Breakfast and is valid until 30 December 2009. Sounds like a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or a great treat for yourself!
For more treats, check out a previous post from Your Travel Planner: Mother’s Day Short Break Ideas
Filed under: Reviews: Hotels, Places to Eat, Destinations, UK & Ireland, Uncategorized | hotel and spa in Surrey, leisure hotel break in the UK, Your Travel Planner|No Comments
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