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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|No Comments
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
Popular with the celebrities and renowned for its glorious sandy beaches and yacht-filled marinas, St Tropez enjoys a spectacular setting on the French Riviera.
The fantastically organised Rona Wheeldon (The Organised PA) sent this review of Villa La Begude, a gorgeous B&B in St Tropez, to share with Your Travel Planner readers.
Villa La Begude (www.villalabegude.com) is a beautiful Bed & Breakfast guesthouse, situated on the outskirts of St Tropez.
There are four rooms in total, all of which are very tastefully decorated. We stayed in a room on the ground floor, which had French doors opening on to a decked area. It was here that we enjoyed our delicious breakfast of fruit, yoghurt, croissants and coffee every morning. The room itself had air conditioning, a modern bathroom and was always kept immaculately clean.
The guest house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and has a lovely pool, which is lit at night in rainbow colours. Whilst enjoying the poolside area, drinks for guests are available from a well-stocked fridge….for which a tab is kept.
St Tropez is either a five minute drive or a fifteen minute walk away. Villa La Begude is on the outskirts of the town so it’s very peaceful.
Daniela and her husband Harold, who own the guesthouse, were such friendly and welcoming hosts. Nothing was too much trouble!
So, if you’re thinking of travelling on holiday to the south of France, I would thoroughly recommend Villa La Begude as a charming and perfect place to stay for a relaxing holiday.
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 | B&B, France, South of France, St Tropez|No Comments
Well here I go. It’s really exciting starting this travel blog and I’m looking forward to sharing travel tips, holiday ideas, reviews and personal travel experiences.
Topics for this travel blog will include family holidays, where to go when, travel tips, travel news and reviews.
Your Travel Planner is about sharing travel ideas with all our readers, so please do comment and interact. To start off, what would you like to see included in Your Travel Planner’s topics?
Filed under: Uncategorized | travel blog, Your Travel Planner|No Comments
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