Cruise & Holiday Reviews

Top Places to see in Ho Chi Minh City

southwalescruise — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:35:15 +0000

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and is a relatively easy city to explore on foot. Many of the top places are within close walking distance to the main central areas for visitors – Dong Khoi Street and the Saigon River in District One.

Five of the top places to visit are outlined below:

1.    Ben Thanh Market.
For a slice of Vietnam it is well worth going to Ben Thanh Market. It is a great spot to purchase souvenirs, t-shirts, or a tailor made outfit. Be sure to haggle to try and get a better deal. If you are after a cheap, tasty, quick meal or some coffee or nuts to take home, you can get them easily here.
2.    War Remnants Museum (Nha Trung Bay Toi Ac Chien Tranh), 28 Vo Van Tan Street District Three.
In a city with several museums, this one is very popular with visitors. It presents a pictorial history of the American War (as it is called in Vietnam). Sometimes the photographs will challenge the viewer and give them a better insight into this tough era.
3.    Central Post Office – at the top of Dong Khoi Street.
The Central Post Office is more than just a place to post a letter, as the centrally located French Colonial building has much appeal. Look out for the ATMs in old phone boxes and for colourful stamps to send postcards home.
4.    Notre Dame Cathedral, at the top of Dong Khoi Street.
This is a picturesque Cathedral, opposite the Central Post Office, with a beautiful statue of Mary.
5.    Reunification Palace.
There is nothing pretty about this old building that was once a Presidential Palace, but it is now a museum with displays documenting the history of the War. It is recommended to take a guided tour when visiting the interesting monument.

How to Have Cheap Skiing Holidays

southwalescruise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:53:12 +0000

First of all, avoid travelling during peak times, such as the schools’ half-term holiday in February. This is especially important if schools across the UK opt for the same week, and even more so should this occur at the same time as the similar break that French schools take.

If the timing is right, the next step in sorting out cheap skiing holidays is to make arrangements for travel and accommodation directly, without recourse to a tour operator. Consider the advantages of booking a budget flight, or taking the ferry where this is possible, then driving to a reasonably priced self-catering apartment in the chosen destination.

Avoiding the larger resorts and heading for smaller villages, or the cheaper satellite resorts surrounding the bigger, more costly ski areas, is a smart idea. It is also prudent to develop the habit of keeping a watchful eye on fluctuations in foreign currency: countries such as Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania are outside the Eurozone, and this means cheap skiing holidays there will include bargain prices for drinks, food and lift passes. The ski industry, as much as any other, is prone to the unexpected and inexplicable changes of the financial markets but this can work in favour of certain countries and their resorts.

Ultimately, the key is to do the research. For example, some experts advise that even Switzerland can offer cheap skiing holidays if enthusiasts know where to look. Once more, choosing smaller resorts is a less expensive option, not only for the initial asking price but also for the cost of dining out and purchasing lift passes.

Looking out across the Indian Ocean – Majorda Beach Resort

southwalescruise — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:31:20 +0000

The Majorda Beach resort is located on the pristine white sands of the southern district of Goa – India’s West Coast beach destination that attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world. This five star resort is a sprawling property with a private beach and offers a private getaway from the busy public beaches. The resort is located some distance from the city although the hotel will arrange for inexpensive tours or transportation into the city.

Rooms and Facilities

The hotel’s 120 spacious rooms are set in a turn-of-the century Portuguese mansion with 10 suites and 10 independent cottages. Suites and deluxe rooms have traditional Goan paintings and terracotta sculpture to complement the olive green and sandstone decor. Set amid green spaces, the hotel has a heated indoor pool, traditional ayurvedic massage spa and casino. The hotel offers wired and Wi-Fi internet services, satellite television, international direct dial, a minibar, tea and coffee maker. The poolside restaurant has two live food counters featuring traditional Indian and European cuisine. The indoor restaurant has a delightfully Goan lunch and dinner buffet. A short stroll down to the beach also allows guests to enjoy parasailing and jet skiing in the waters of the Arabian Sea. The private beach also has active and vigilant lifeguards although the water is red-flagged just a few meters out.

The Majorda Beach resort offers the elegance of Goa’s warmth and hospitality to its discerning clientele, without the kitschy ambience of a run-of-the-mill resort.

Book Breakfast Included and Make Your Money Go Further

southwalescruise — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:37:05 +0000

Holidays may be all about a touch of extravagance and not worrying about money for a few days, but in reality, nearly everyone operates on a budget during a holiday. The secret is to make that budget stretch as far as it can and still have some left over for special gifts, unusual excursion, night of fine dining or whatever special indulgence takes your fancy.

So you’ve found the ideal cheap holiday, a great deal on flights, or a handy hotel discount, this is all well and good, but if you end up spending a small fortune on eating out then the hard work will be ruined. After travel and accommodation, food is the next biggest holiday expense. If you eat out for every meal, it could easily set a family back several hundred pounds over the course of a week.

One simple way around this is to book hotel accommodation that includes breakfast in the price. It may not be the most exciting cuisine, but it can set you up well for the day and is one expense you won’t have to worry about. Picnics are a good option for lunch. Many tour operators also offer package holidays with all meals included, so these are worth investigating too.

The other option is self-catering accommodation and buying all your food. This may take some of the fun out of your holiday, but it could also give you the extra funds to splash out on a very special meal.

The Popularity of Cruise Ships

southwalescruise — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:18:08 +0000

Cruises which set sail from the United Kingdom are becoming more and more popular with UK travellers. It is estimated that four out of every ten cruises booked by a Briton this year will set sail from a UK port. The Mediterranean remains the most popular cruise destination for ships that depart from UK ports, while cruises to Northern European destinations have now overtaken Caribbean cruises in popularity, and account for the second largest number of cruises booked in the UK.

Southampton is the largest and most established cruise ship port in the UK. Most Mediterranean cruises depart from Southampton, as do most transatlantic voyages. Dover is the next most popular port for cruise ships, and has grown in popularity over the last couple of years.

Sea travellers can be sure of comfortable and spacious accommodation, excellent dining choices, nonstop onboard activities, fantastic nightly entertainment, and adventurous and fun programmes at each port of call when they book a cruise with any of the established cruise lines. With many lines offering all-inclusive packages, cruises are one of the fastest growing and most cost effective holiday options in the travel industry today.

Cruises offer exceptional levels of personalized service, and the highly trained staff will do their utmost to ensure that each passenger has a memorable cruise experience. Many cruise lines also offer individuals the opportunity to tailor their onboard experience so as to create a dream holiday.

Arrangements can also be made for the cruise ship to host special events such as a milestone, anniversary, birthday, reunion, honeymoon, or wedding and in most cases the staff will be able to accommodate just about any special requests that the event coordinator might have.

Pelagic Creatures of the Maldives

southwalescruise — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:22:20 +0000

Maldives holidays are a great way for anyone seeking sun and adventure to discover new sights and experience new activities. Naturally there is more to the Maldives than just sitting on white sandy beaches basking in the sun. Here you get the chance to try different type of activities such as surfing, diving and snorkelling. Visitors are also encouraged to see what the coral reef has to offer as an underwater haven for the Maldives’ pelagic creatures. Pelagic refers to creatures that live in the open ocean rather than near the shore.

The holiday highlight for most visitors to the Maldives is being able to see exotic fish and the coral reef life with your own eyes. Many pelagic creatures such as sharks, oriental sweetlips, rays, and blue-lined snappers can be seen. The clear waters of the Maldives offer enough light and visibility so that diving to see these creatures is pretty straightforward.

If diving is not for you then you can enjoy a tour of the creatures that reside in the coral reef of the Maldives through taking a passenger submarine. This allows you to enjoy both the day and night creatures as tours operate at all hours of the day. Passengers are treated to the sights of yellow boxfish, turtles, and yellow-blue stripped snappers and even tip reef sharks.

Visitors on Maldives holidays can see different kinds of marine life at different times of year. The Maldives is ruled by two seasons, namely the north-east monsoon that dominates during the months of December to April, and the south-east monsoon, dominating the climate and seas during the months of May to November.

Barbados Holidays

southwalescruise — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:27:57 +0000

Travellers who are looking for the best in luxury holidays are sure to find plenty of choice in the island country of Barbados. Settlers in this small island country in the Lesser Antilles date back to Amerindians arriving from Venezuela between the 4th and 7th Century AD, followed by Caribs from South America in the 13th Century. Visitors Spain and Portugal followed before the island was claimed as an English colony in 1625. As of 1966, Barbados became an independent state and member of the commonwealth realm, retaining the British monarch as their head of state.

Visitors to the island will immediately notice there remains a British influence throughout Barbados, particularly when looking at the architecture of older buildings, with many being built in Georgian, Victorian or Jacobean styles. There are also strong elements of West African culture to be found in Barbados. This is most noticeable with the arts and traditional Calypso music of the island.

The island of Barbados has plenty to offer holidaymakers visiting the country. Most famous for stunning beaches and a perfect year-round climate, Barbados holidays provide plenty of other activities and excursions for those who don’t want to lie on the beach all day. Barbados famously has some of the best cuisine in the Caribbean, mixing Creole cooking with African and European influences. The country also boasts a vibrant culture of traditional arts, crafts and music, with a lively atmosphere that is sure to infect visitors to the island.

When In Rome

southwalescruise — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:24:45 +0000

The capital of Italy, known as the ‘eternal city’, has existed for over three thousand years. As you would expect from such a city of antiquity, you could spend your whole holiday viewing and discovering the historic sites of Rome. However, the famous Coliseum and its ancient ruins of the old gladiatorial arena are fascinating and cannot be missed. Some say you can still hear the clash of the gladiator’s swords. Other sightseeing joys include The Pantheon, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Galleria Bhorgese, one of the world’s largest private art collections.

You can reach Rome by air from two airports, Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport and Ciampino International Airport. Ciampino is served by UK budget airlines and is actually closer to Rome than the Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport.

A Roma Pass might be worth purchasing if you plan to stay for at least three days in the city. This enables you to save on entrance fees to museums and attractions, also giving you free public transport.

If you want to shop in Rome, there is ample opportunity. Fashion lovers are well provided for with numerous designer stores throughout the city. There are also many independent boutiques giving you a new and refreshing shopping experience. The Via Del Condotti is the main shopping thoroughfare for designer labels.

The Italians take their food very seriously and you will find a wide range of delicious Italian meals on the menu in the trattorias and bustling pavement cafés. Whether it is a simple pizza or pasta dish, or the most exquisite dark chocolate ice cream, Rome will keep you coming back for more.

Caribbean Cruises

southwalescruise — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:08:05 +0000

As close as you can come to heaven on earth, a Caribbean cruise is something every holidaymaker should experience at least once in a lifetime – preferably more than once! With sands every bit as white and seas and skies every bit as blue as you see on TV, the Caribbean islands must be seen to be believed and what better way to explore this paradise than by way of a luxurious cruise liner? Although the Caribbean islands number around 7,000, only around 2% of those are inhabited. This gives the traveller around 120 different and diverse destinations to visit. The oldest of the Caribbean islands are Trinidad and Cuba and on these islands you can see prehistoric rock formations and fossils. All the islands are within 200km of each other (apart from Bermuda which stands alone bordering the Caribbean and Atlantic) so a Caribbean cruise includes a good number of islands for the visitor to experience. Interestingly, each island has its own culture and customs but wherever you go in the Caribbean you will be met with friendly welcoming people and most of the cruise liners offer superb tours and outings with local English-speaking tour guides. You can visit the rain forests of Dominica, see the carnival in Trinidad, swim in the azure waters of magical Tortola, visit the slave train in Martinique and so much more. The Caribbean offers its visitors a wealth of history as well as spectacular beauty and the warmth of its people and there is no better way to see this richly fascinating part of the world than via a luxury cruise ship. There are many cruise deals for 2012 around at the moment so make sure you pick up the best deal on Caribbean cruise options for 2012 by booking now!

A brief guide to Paris

southwalescruise — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:49:56 +0000

Paris is a city that needs no introduction. Its reputation as a centre for style, fashion and the arts is world-famous. Its attractions are iconic and yet, if you’ve never been, you have missed something.

The city itself is like an intoxicating perfume, one that will envelope you from the moment you arrive and linger on long after you have left.

Walk along the banks for the Seine and breath in everything that inspired Victor Hugo’s great works such as Les Miserables and Notre Dame de Paris. The cathedral itself is breathtaking; admission to the main hall is free and visitors can also attend Mass for a small fee. Queues for the Towers are long in summer time, so come between October and March if you prefer a quieter visit. Whatever time of year you visit, though, the views across the city are spectacular.

Out of the city, a short train ride southwest will take you to Saint-Maur-des-Fosses, an affluent suburb of Paris that was once home to Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.

No visit to Paris is complete without a trip up the Eiffel Tower; make sure you take in the views across the city at night for a truly memorable experience.