Gadling

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee: 2012's other major British event

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean

In London, signs of the coming Olympics are everywhere. Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations have begun to expand into East London toward key Olympics sites, billboards urge drivers to begin to think about how they'll deal with increased traffic, and the Prime Minister is busy warning unions that the prospect of a strike during the Olympics would be "unacceptable and unpatriotic."

Meanwhile, outside of London, a number of cities have banded together as Heritage Cities in part to lure those tourists brought to London by the Olympics away from the capital.

But the Olympics are not the only event drawing visitors to the UK this year. 2012 is also the year of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee, the 60th anniversary of her coronation as Queen. The Diamond Jubilee will reach its peak during what is being called the Diamond Jubilee central weekend, from June 2 through 5. The weekend will be characterized by some serious pomp and circumstance. Events will include a 1000-boat pageant on the Thames on June 3, a BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4, and a special Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral followed by a carriage procession on June 5.

In addition to this peak period, there are a number of other events planned in the lead-up to the weekend and beyond.

For example, members of the Royal Family are traveling around the UK, the UK's Crown Dependencies, the UK's Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Currently, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife the Countess of Wessex are on a two-week commemorative Caribbean visit, taking in St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, and Antigua and Barbuda. Locals and tourists alike in the region might just run across Edward and Sophie through March 7.

The Queen and Prince Philip's travel schedule begins March 8 in Leicester and finishes off on what looks like a very busy July 25, taking in Cowes, the Isle of Wight, New Forest, and Hampshire.

There is an official website for taking stock of Diamond Jubilee events. There's also a handy Google map allowing visitors to see where various members of the Royal Family will be celebrating the Queen's reign throughout the year. (Spoiler alert: Harry got Jamaica.) Visitors can play with an interactive timeline of the last 60 years and also send a message to the Queen. And there's the crucial bit of information that Andrew Lloyd Webber is co-authoring a Diamond Jubilee song.

[Image: Flickr | quinn.anya]

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee: 2012's other major British event originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

$200 discount on tickets to St. Lucia's Health and Wellness Retreat

Jessica Festa — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hiking, Festivals and Events, St. Lucia, Travel Deals, Caribbean

For those craving some nutritious and active fun, St. Lucia will be hosting a Health and Wellness Retreat from November 17-November 20, 2011. While tickets are priced at $1,000, attendees can receive a $200 discount if they buy their ticket before October 15th.

Taking place in the "Eden of the Caribbean", Soufriere, the retreat will bring together experts in yoga, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching.

So what can you expect at the Health and Wellness Retreat? Yoga and feng-shui workshops, classes on art, pottery and photography, lectures by experts in the field, and active adventures such as hiking, climbing the nearby Piton Mountains, cycling, snorkeling, bird-watching, and more. Spa treatments, including a local therapy favorite using Soufriere's mineral and mud baths, is also an option. Even lunch becomes a learning experience as chefs give participants demonstrations on nutritious cooking.

Make sure to buy your ticket while you can still get the early bird special. To book a room at a participating hotel, click here.

$200 discount on tickets to St. Lucia's Health and Wellness Retreat originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Take another look at these ten top cruise ports

Chris Owen — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, United Kingdom, Barbados, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, United States, Cruises, Caribbean

If you travel by cruise ship, there's not a lot of choice in the matter. Cruise lines have a variety of islands to visit but the choices are limited with many itineraries virtually the same from ship to ship. Still, you are not required to get in line and go along with the crowd. Consider the cruise ship no more than the way you got there when thinking of what to do ashore. Planning as though you took a flight, not a cruise ship, puts things in a way better perspective. Think of yourself as a traveler who came by sea. No, really. Think that way and even ports you may have been to several times will have a fresh, new look and feel.

If you travel by air, flying can get you to islands not serviced regularly by cruise lines or maybe islands you might have sampled on a cruise and said "I think I could come back and do this again, without the ship". If you have ever been on a cruise you probably said that at one time or another.

Sure, a cruise vacation is often a best value for travel. Good, glad to hear it. Now let's take that a step further and get more out of your cruise by thinking a bit differently about common cruise ports visited by most every cruise line. Let's look at ten top Caribbean islands and cruise ports.

Continue reading Take another look at these ten top cruise ports

Take another look at these ten top cruise ports originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Chris Owen — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, North America, South America, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Guyana, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Going ashore can be one of the best parts of a cruise and one of the reasons many travelers choose a cruise vacation in the first place. From the comfort of your floating hotel, you can see multiple destinations but only have to unpack once. Cruise lines offer a wide variety of excursions at each port of call and encourage passengers to join. Some are over-priced but carry an implied level of safety that might not be entirely accurate.

The potential scam-like claim here is "Oh, you don't want to go out on your own on a shore excursion. If they're late getting you back, the ship will leave without you"

Yes, they could do that. Will they? Probably not. How likely is that to happen? Not likely at all.

Often, the same companies and people that do shore excursions for the cruise lines also do them independently. Still, the cruise lines say they do investigate and follow up on excursion providers to see how they are doing, holding them to high standards.

Alternatives to ship-sponsored excursions. Shoretrips.com, is a third-party service that provides excursions world-wide. Owners Julie and Barry from Milwaukee, Wisconsin travel to each of the destinations and insure that their tours are safe and interesting. Often, Shoretrips.com excursions are less expensive and less crowded too. Booking more than 200,000 people a year, they have yet to leave someone behind.

Let's talk price. A pretty easy-to-compare excursion in Cozumel, Mexico, Swimming with the Dolphins is $129 for adults or children on Carnival Cruise Lines. Shoretrips.com has that dolphin swim for $79 for adults and $77 for children. That's about 40% less than the cruise line. Prices vary among lines too. Royal Caribbean has that dolphin swim for $99. Their price is better than Carnival but not as good as Shoretrips.com.

Another option is to go with someone recommended by a trusted friend or a travel blogger you've come to know. Reliable independent operators know what they are competing with on the cruise line excursion offerings and almost always offer a better value. That might come in the form of a lower price or a similar price with a better experience.

Get good information. A good source for reliable travel information about specific ports of call is AOL travel guides. Good discussion and very current, personal information can be found at CruiseCritic.com. Your good travel agent/expert should have recommendations also.

I'm really not trying to talk you out of the ship-sponsored shore excursions. They're good. Nothing wrong with them. But there are alternatives that are just as safe (or not) as third-party vendors.

Cruise lines have their share of problems with excursions.

Continue reading Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions

Cruise line scams: Shore Excursions originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

5 tips for people who really don't want to go on a cruise

Chris Owen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Morocco, United Kingdom, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, New Zealand, Cruises, Central America, Caribbean

Maybe hiking, biking, backpacking or pretty much any other minimizing endeavor is more what you have in mind for traveling but someone is dragging you along on a cruise. There's just no way you're getting out of it. Is there hope for you? Yes. A little. Not much. But some.

Pace yourself- Food will always be available 24 hours a day on board. You might not be used to that with your triathlon training and all so do some stomach stretching exercises prior to boarding. You will need the extra room. Stop pouting that there are no granola bars or energy drinks. There are. On cruises they are called "shots" and you find them at the bars. You'll enjoy the walk to get them and recent studies suggest those extra steps will help prevent diabetes.

No barfing- You are concerned about the possibility of becoming sea sick because the little path on your normal mountain hike doesn't really move around much. Think of it like that and yeah, you probably will be. Prepare for shooting the rapids in Colorado with somebody who doesn't know what they're doing and you'll be fine. It could be worse. You could have been invited along for a taping of Paris Hilton's new reality show.

Know where you are going- Take time before the cruise to check out a travel guide on the places you will visit. Duh. Just because you don't have any say in where the ship goes doesn't mean you can't meet fun and find interesting people. You probably won't find any of them on the ship but maybe when you go ashore.

Careful with spending- The food is included in the price of your cruise but that's about it. Beverages, both alcoholic and sodas are not included. Want a sip of water? You'll pay $23.54 for that. This is why people smuggle booze on the ship. They do have beds so leave your sleeping bag at home with your tent. Bring your flashlight though, cruise passenger are fascinated by shiny things.

Relax. That may seem like a silly tip but you would be surprised how many people try to pack so much into every day that they need a vacation after they get back from their cruise to recuperate. Know this as a fact: There are way too many things to do and you can not possibly do them all. To be more accurate, there are too many things to do that you will think are stupid so bring a telescope and memorize the sky. Maybe you can find a 14th sign of the zodiac.

Flickr photo by Robbie Howell

5 tips for people who really don't want to go on a cruise originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Feds threaten: cruise line pollution must stop

Chris Owen — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: North America, Canada, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, United States, Cruises, Caribbean

New emission rules for cruise ships and other large vessels are set to go into effect in late 2013.

A United Nations plan to control emissions from ships sailing within 200 nautical miles of the U.S. and Canadian coasts initially excluded the U.S, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico which pretty much left the Caribbean wide open for uncontrolled cruise line pollution.

Ships often use lower costing fuels with high sulphur levels outside of U.S. government jurisdiction, changing to cleaner fuels as they approach U.S. ports.

Under the plan, which would now include the U.S Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, ships would be required to use cleaner fuel or install special pollution reducing equipment to reduce air pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that asthma and cancer-causing pollutants could be cut by about 90% in a decade.

Under the plan, which needs approval from the United Nations' London-based International Maritime Organization, EPA officials could randomly show up at ports to inspect ships and enforcement will be tough. The penalties have not yet been established, but impounding ships has been suggested as one option, said Elias Rodriguez, an EPA spokesperson.

Flickr photo by lecates

Feds threaten: cruise line pollution must stop originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top ten hotel rooms with a view

Alex Robertson Textor — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Kenya, France, Canada, St. Lucia, United States, Australia, Argentina, Chile, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean, Hong Kong

Hotels aren't the sum of travel, but the right hotel can bring magic to a journey. Friendly employees, amazing furnishings, and great locations can all make a good holiday great. And an exceptional view, above and beyond the rest, can stick in one's memory forever. Here are ten hotels strewn around the world, each with ridiculously stunning views.

1. Shearwater Resort, Saba. Shearwater's Cottage Rooms, which overlook the resort's cliffside pool from an altitude of 2000 feet and sport views of the ocean and several neighboring islands (St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, and Nevis) are in a league of their own. See above for evidence. Shearwater's owners also recommend the views from their Ocean View Suite. Cottage Rooms from $175; Ocean View Suite from $250.

2. Longitude 131, Ayers Rock Resort, Australia. The tents at Longitude 131 at Ayers Rock feature heart-stopping panoramic views of this most iconic of Australian sights. This is real fantasy territory, with rates well beyond feasibility for most. From A$4080 for two for two nights ($4095).

3. Hotel on Rivington, New York, New York. The corner king rooms at this Lower East Side outpost of extravagance have floor-to-ceiling glass walls affording astounding views of the city. Aim for a room on a higher floor. From $379.

4. Hotel de Crillon, Paris, France. Terribly exorbitant, yes--not sure that a room at this price point should ever be recommended--but the views are exquisite here. Do you best to nab a room with a view over the Place de la Concorde to the Eiffel Tower. From €630 ($875).

5. Sheraton Iguazú Resort and Spa, Iguazú Falls, Argentina. The only hotel inside the Iguazú National Park offers awe-inspiring views of the falls themselves. The Falls View rooms, all with balconies, are perfect for the view-minded. From $255.

Continue reading Top ten hotel rooms with a view

Top ten hotel rooms with a view originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ten outdoor destinations with everything!

Jason Heflin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Hiking, Paddling, Scuba Diving, Skiing, Surfing, South Africa, France, Canada, St. Lucia, United States, New Zealand, Bolivia, Ecuador

Who says you can't have it all? For many travelers vacation time is limited. Those in search of adventure want to maximize that short window of travel time. Here are ten cities where adventure-seekers can expand their options with a range of heart-pounding choices.

Buena Vista, Colorado
Buena Vista translates to "beautiful view." It's easy to understand why the name stuck. Nestled into the central Colorado highlands, this Colorado town just might be the hidden adventure gem of the Rockies. Peak-baggers have twenty 14ers within roughly an hour-and-a-half drive from Buena Vista, making it a perfect base camp for high-altitude hiking. Ski Cooper, Monarch and Aspen are all close by for a winter sports fix and the class III-V Arkansas River provides thrilling whitewater rafting all summer long.

Cape Town, South Africa
South Africa is considered by many to be the adrenaline capital of the world. Cape Town has no shortage of blood-pumping options. Traditional sports like sea kayaking and mountain biking are epic here, but there's also more unique endeavors like sand boarding. If that's still not enough to get adrenaline junkies excited, there's always the shark cage diving experience.

Continue reading Ten outdoor destinations with everything!

Ten outdoor destinations with everything! originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Daily Pampering: New restaurant opens at The Landings in St. Lucia

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, St. Lucia, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean

If you haven't been to The Landings St. Lucia lately, the restaurant that just opened is probably worth a trip. This RockResort just threw open the doors of The Palms, which is located in the grand entrance pavilion as an extension of the open-air Viscount Lounge. The menu boasts a Caribbean flavor, not to mention sustainably produced seafood from local St. Lucian farms.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday and serves the creations of Executive Chef Richard Tonks. His menu includes potted pork and duck appetizers with pickled vegetables and potato pancakes, but what really excites me are the shredded braised lamb shanks wrapped in lettuce girolles, shallots and merlot sauce - I might book a flight just to toss that into my mouth.

And then there's the art ...

I could spend hours staring at contemporary art, and The Landings is making that pretty easy. In The Palms, the walls are adorned with the creations of local artist Llewellyn Xavier. Every piece on display in the restaurant is made from recycled materials.

With only 28 seats, this is an intimate environment and an ideal space for a meal on a romantic getaway. Be sure to take in at least one meal at The Palms when your down at The Landings.

Get your daily dose of Pampering right here.

Daily Pampering: New restaurant opens at The Landings in St. Lucia originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Four Twitter deals for Valentine's Day getaways

Tom Johansmeyer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: North America, St. Lucia, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean

You may not be able to say how you feel in 140 characters or less, but you sure can get leads on the best Valentine's Day experience that way. So, instead of tweeting a feeling, use the white-hot social media platform to grab the top travel specials for the most romantic day of the year. Several resorts are running Twitter-only Valentine's Day specials this year, so follow the right people, and you'll be able to wow your better half this year.

1. @BalHarbourFL

ONE Bal Harbour, a five-star luxury property in Florida, is offering a savings of up to $800 a night through its "Tweeterhearts" package. Follow @BalHarbourFL and look for the package that has a room rate of only $1,335 a night for three nights, champagne in your room upon arrival, a couples spa treatment in a private beachside cabana and a romantic dinner for two at 1 Bleu.

2. @FairmontNewport
Look for a room rate of $199 a night at the Fairmont Newport with its "Twitter-patter" package. You'll stay in a junior suite, enjoy breakfast on your private balcony and receive plush robes adorned with the names of you and your guest (perfect for Twitter nerds like @tjohansmeyer and his wife, mommy-blogger, @ljpimberton -- I'm seriously kicking this around, just for the robes). Other amenities, from high-speed internet access to valet parking and champagne are covered, as well. And, the window is wide: you can stay from the beginning of February through the end of March. Get the booking code from @FairmontNewport or @FairmontHotels.

Continue reading Four Twitter deals for Valentine's Day getaways

Four Twitter deals for Valentine's Day getaways originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Document your vacation with RockResorts "Three for Free" promotion

Katie Hammel — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Skiing, North America, St. Lucia, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Travel Deals

With the slumping economy and decline in hotel occupancy rates, lots of hotels and resorts are offering deals that allow you stay for free after you pay for a certain number of nights. But not many resorts are throwing in a free "adventure cam" to use during your stay.

RockResorts, which operates properties in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and St. Lucia, is offering a "Three for Free" promotion that goes above and beyond the standard package deal. The minimum stay at each resort varies (ranging from 3-6 nights) and dates of validity vary through April depending on which of the 12 resorts you choose, but at each one you'll receive: one free night's stay, a $50 gift card or resort credit, and a free Adventure Eye Video Systems action/ helmet camcorder to make a movie off all the fun you have during your stay.

As an added bonus, those who actually use the camera to record themselves out and about on the property can enter their movie into a contest to win free Epic Passes for the 2010-2011 season. The passes allow unlimited skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado.

To take advantage of the promotion, rooms must be booked by January 31.

[via La Times]

Document your vacation with RockResorts "Three for Free" promotion originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get out and go: Events around the world (December 9-14)

Brenda Yun — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, Asia, Europe, North America, Japan, Philippines, Norway, Canada, St. Lucia, Caribbean

It's time to look at the festivals and events happening around the world, and this week has a particularly international selection of happenings. If you're close and have time, then you have no excuse to get out and go!

Toronto - The Festival of Carols, a holiday tradition, will be held in Toronto this Wednesday, December 9th.
Oslo - The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony will be held in Oslo Thursday, December 10th. The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony takes place every 10th of December, the date on which Alfred Nobel died in 1896.
Cape Town - The Hout Bay Harbour Festival will take place in Hout Bay, Cape Town on Friday, December 11. The festival will continue until December 13.
St Lucia - The Festival of Lights Celebration will take place for two days in St Lucia starting this Saturday, December 12. Saint Lucians celebrate this day by going to church services, attending parades and rallies, organizing sports meetings and staging cultural presentations. December 13th is the National Day of St Lucia.
Auckland - Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park will take place in Auckland on Saturday, December 12 . This is a free musical event that begins at 7:30 p.m.
Tokyo - Gishi-sai takes place on Sunday, December 13 in Tokyo, Japan. This is a festival honoring the forty-seven loyal retainers (ronin) in Akoh, who were made popular in movies and dramas.
Tanjay City - The Bod-Bod Festival will take place Monday, December 14th in Tanjay City in the Philippines. The festival celebratesto the Bod-bod, a native delicacy made of glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar and salt. The festival will continue until December 16th.

If you make it to one of these events, let us know how it was, or if you know of an even that's coming up, please let us here at Gadling know and we'll be sure to include it in the next "Get out and go" round-up.

Get out and go: Events around the world (December 9-14) originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jalousie Plantation resort brings solar golf carts to St Lucia

Tom Johansmeyer — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: St. Lucia, Hotels and Accommodations, Caribbean

Okay, it's not exactly a cure for cancer, but any initiative that does cut down on fossil fuel reliance still resonates with me. So, I was pretty excited to see that the Jalousie Plantation has adopted a hybrid solar-powered golf cart to move guests around on its 192-acre property ... with no carbon emissions! This is among the first of these environmentally-friendly golf carts in the Caribbean, and the goal is for this quirky little vehicle to replace the oil-dependent carts and minibuses that currently carry passengers around Jalousie.

This measure is reflective of Jalousie parent company Kor Hotel Group's "Second Nature" program, which consists of several eco-friendly measures across its holdings. Kor's properties are encouraged to source local produce, arts and other supplies to cut down on food-miles (or other "product-miles") in an effort to reduce carbon emissions while contributing to economic growth in the community.

"We want to play our part at The Jalousie Plantation in supporting the environmentally-conscious initiatives of Kor and the new hybrid solar-powered golf cart is seen as a first step in helping us to do this," Jalousie's General Manager, Rodrigo Caldeira said.

The golf cart has a photovoltaic cell on its roof, which takes St Lucia sunshine and turns it into the electricity that makes the cart move. In the event of rain, the cart can be plugged into an electrical outlet to have its battery charged.

"Eventually all of the vehicles we use at Jalousie will be gasoline-free and this will help us to lessen our emissions of greenhouse gases which are having a tremendous impact on eco-systems around the world and contributing to climatic change and global warming," Caldeira said. "The new cart also significantly reduces noise pollution and makes a great contribution in our efforts to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and in ensuring our operations are environmentally sustainable."

Jalousie Plantation resort brings solar golf carts to St Lucia originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Concierge's IT List: Places for upscale tastes, but maybe cheaper

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Food and Drink, Blogs, Stories, Mozambique, China, France, Italy, Serbia, St. Lucia, Ecuador, Hotels and Accommodations

There's The New York Times list of 53 places to go in 2008 (see post), the 40 travel tips and suggestions from London's Times (see post )and now Concierge.com has an IT List of 10 more suggestions, all with sound reasoning behind each one.

The way a destination ends up on this list is that it's had enough people show up to increase the odds that it has some sense of what travelers like, therefore it can deliver a vacation to write home about--or it's a place people have gone to for years, but has something new to offer. In the case of this list, it's luxury.

When I looked over the Concierge list, it occurred to me that there are places I'd like to go on a vacation if I had A LOT of money. Any place could be spiffy.

Continue reading Concierge's IT List: Places for upscale tastes, but maybe cheaper

Concierge's IT List: Places for upscale tastes, but maybe cheaper originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gadling on the Road Archives

Neil Woodburn — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Hiking, History, Learning, China, Tajikistan, Albania, Croatia, Haiti, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, United States

Here at Gadling we pride ourselves in putting our money where our mouth is. In other words, we write about travel because we are all travelers. This is our passion, this is our hobby, this is our life.

Unfortunately, we can't all travel 100% of the time. But, when we do hit the road, we tend to hit it rather well.

Over the last few years, our writers and correspondents have traveled the globe, absorbed their surroundings, converted what they've seen into zeros and ones on their laptop, and then digitally rearranged it for you right here on Gadling. Sometimes it might be a simple post, but other times we've built entire series around exotic locations. Sadly, as time passes, these features have died a lonely death, disappearing into the void of cyberspace never to be seen again.

As a result, we've decided to resurrect some of the very best and provide for them a nice, accessible home so that they may continue providing virtual sustenance to our readers. The link to this new home is just below our Gadling Writers on the Road section (which features our current writers on assignment). To explore our prior destinations, simply click on the Archives Button and you'll soon be up to your knees in China, Beijing, Alaska, Haiti, Miami, St. Lucia, Tajikistan, the Balkans, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Enjoy!

Gadling on the Road Archives originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

St. Lucia There & Back Part 7: Sunset Cruisin' the Carib

Adrienne Wilson — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:56:00 EST

Filed under: St. Lucia

Heading out on a sunset cruise filled with couples and hopeless romantics as a single lady has its pluses and minuses... First, I had the honor of being thrown an occasional glance or two by a cuddling couple probably wondering why I'm not cuddling with someone of my own. Second, I had the opportunity to make conversation with the crew members and locals about all the aggravating things tourists tend to ask practically everyday. Third, I got to laugh with the crew members once all the rum punch kicked in and people got wild and wacky on the dance floor, but the fourth part of going single or hitched is watching an incredible sunset while cruising along the bumpy Caribbean waters. In my case there wasn't a totally awesome sunset to see - the clouds managed to hide quite a bit of the late afternoon rays and sun as a whole, but I knew I was far lucky than someone else out there who wasn't sipping on Planter's Punch just taking time for themselves.

I booked my sunset cruise through Solar Tours & Travel with a woman named Thecla Cockrell. It was scheduled in the late afternoon after my morning helicopter tour and she promised it would make for a pleasant ending to an adventuresome day. She couldn't have been more right. The catamaran we took off on was named the "Spirit of Carnival" and I set up camp on the front left hand side so that whatever bit of sun was left would be in perfect view. I let everything on my mind drift somewhere far out to a distance I could no longer see or imagine what was actually beyond. I watched the waves bump up against the vessel and then I also had to watch for staggering individuals with beverages making their way back to their own post. And when the music changed from reggae to American favorites like Summer Lovin' from Grease I was invited to dance with someone's 60 year old husband and boy could he move!

By this point night had charged its way in and the clouds had transformed into the kind that let out showers of liquid sunshine in the daytime and rain in the night. As we pulled back into dock it started drizzling. It couldn't have been better timing. I don't think I fancy the idea of being out on a boat in the rain, but that's just me.

To find out more on booking a Sunset Cruise or other island activities with Solar Tours & Travel they can be reached by phone at 758.452.5898 or by visiting their website, here. Ask for Thecla Cockrell. The two hour sunset cruise on Spirit of Carnival is $45 which includes drinks, small appetizers to feast on and good music with a dance floor to show off your best and worst moves.

St. Lucia There & Back Part 7: Sunset Cruisin' the Carib originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

St. Lucia There & Back Part 6: Sightseeing by Helicopter

Adrienne Wilson — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:45:00 EST

Filed under: St. Lucia

After I took my first aerial tour in Oahu, Hawaii about two years ago I knew I'd want to take more by helicopter on future vacations, so before I departed to St. Lucia I did some research and found that there is one company offering helicopter tours in St. Lucia. Unsurprisingly, they go under the name St. Lucia Helicopters. They offer a number of tours depending on how much you wish to see and how much money you want to drop to see it. For the $155 I decided to spend I could have probably gone over to neighboring island, Martinique, but once more I wanted to see the island I was camping on at another angle. For $155 you get a 30 minute helicopter ride over the entire island. They also offer a quick 10 minute ride over the north side for $70 per person and a 20 minute tour of the south side for $120. If you're serious about getting great photographs from the sky you should look into their photography tours which can be extremely expensive. Your best bet is what they call the North & South Tour or the one I joined in on.

For my second time in a helicopter the experience itself wasn't that memorable. This helicopter was a six-seater which was much bigger than the tiny four-seater I had been on in the past, but it also much noisier once we really got started. I couldn't hear the pilot well enough when he described some of the attractions on the island, but I was pretty aware of what was situated where for the most part. Also, I was riding with two happy vacationing couples and of course everyone wants a front seat. Well as my luck had it I got a window seat in the back as the couples divided up so one could take pictures in the front and the other could snap shots in the back. One of the girls, a slickster, tried tricking me into the middle passenger seat in the back so I wouldn't be able to provide you with any decent photographs, but I shut her operation down by smiling and kindly stating that I would like a window seat. Move over toots!

With those two things being said I apologize for the lack of captions and also the lack of clarity in some of the photographs. I didn't get the kind of weather I had hoped for on this adventure out and shooting through a thick helicopter window in the back won't get you the kind of results you'd like. If you go, fight for a front window seat. Knock a few teeth out if you have to. I'm just kidding. Remember this is paradise or something close to it so sit back and enjoy the ride. Click continue reading to check out the photos from my view above.

Continue reading St. Lucia There & Back Part 6: Sightseeing by Helicopter

St. Lucia There & Back Part 6: Sightseeing by Helicopter originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

St. Lucia There & Back Part 5: Going by Horse

Adrienne Wilson — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: St. Lucia

By the fifth day of my St. Lucia adventure I was ready to do something different and try new things. I'd been debating between taking a bike tour and seeing a small portion of the island on horseback. It had been centuries since I'd been on a horse so without even tossing a coin I opted for the two hour horseback riding excursion offered by Trim's Riding Stables just up the road from my hotel. When I phoned the night before to find out tour times and cost I was informed of a group heading out around 10 AM and it would be better to join them since the 8:30 AM slot was kind of light in terms of participants. The two hour trot around the Atlantic side of the island in an area known as Cas en Bas would only cost $50 and since that was a pretty decent deal I kindly requested that they pencil me in for 10 AM.

At a quarter to ten o'clock the day of the event I was picked up by a blue and white van with the words 'Bon Ami' in the front and Trim's Riding Stables in the back. Already tucked into the van were two couples and two vacationing friends who were all just as ready as I was see to see which horse we would be paired with for our adventure. But before we reached the stables our driver shouted out a few key things to remember before hoping onto the saddle. Bags would have to be left behind so that we did not injure or bother the horse. We would have to sign waivers before taking off, get fitted for helmets and distinguish who was an experienced rider and who wasn't. When we reached the stables all of this didn't take too much time, but there was still a few small pointers to go over. Instructions were as follows: heels should be pointed down and toes up, hold the rein close and down not up, but let it give a little, and to turn the horse pull the rein downward in the direction you want it to go. With all this to keep in mind it was finally time to be paired with our new pals for the trip.

My horse was named "Spunky" and he was a beauty.

Continue reading St. Lucia There & Back Part 5: Going by Horse

St. Lucia There & Back Part 5: Going by Horse originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

St. Lucia There & Back Part 4: Soufriere Day Trip

Adrienne Wilson — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:41:00 EST

Filed under: Blogs, Stories, St. Lucia

There are few destinations that have a special place in my heart reserved all for their own. Soufriere, a fishing town about 45 minutes south of Rodney Bay found its way in and I will forever remember it for a number of reasons, although the one that stands out the most isn't something I'd recommend anyone trying to duplicate. I was told going down to Soufriere was a MUST and shouldn't be missed with the amount of time I was spending on the island. Intrigued by most of what I had heard I decided to follow what everyone was saying and make the journey down.

My only initial dilemma was finding the best method to carry me there. At first I tried booking one of the open-air jeep safari adventures that take approximately six hours to show you all the key attractions and averages $65 in cost. If it includes a meal it might be a little more, but I didn't go with this because there weren't enough people to fill a jeep and head on out during my planned day trip dates. My second option was to venture down with a Rasta I had recently befriended and was willing to show me around provided I rent a car. I was too lazy to rent a car and as much as I liked the Rasta fellow, I went with a pal of the hotel chef and paid around $90 for a full day of sightseeing. Most taxi's will get you there and around for something around $120-$150 and the local mini-buses (red and green) will certainly get you there for far, far cheaper, but you'll need a way around to all the tourist attractions once you're there and then a way back.

After solving the ride down issue it was all down hill or should I say there were some twists and turns and steep uphill climbs in the semi-long road to Soufriere, but if one can handle it then do it! It is a natural place and full of nature. Walk with me through my day adventure into the village, the volcano and waterfalls.

Continue reading St. Lucia There & Back Part 4: Soufriere Day Trip

St. Lucia There & Back Part 4: Soufriere Day Trip originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

St. Lucia There & Back Part 3: Rodney Bay Beach

Adrienne Wilson — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:43:00 EST

Filed under: St. Lucia

Rodney Bay Beach is like most beautiful tropical beaches and I did what most people do when vacationing near a beach so you can imagine how tough it is for me to divulge every single minute of my wading in crystal clear cool Caribbean waters between working on becoming a golden honey color on the sand. I'd seriously sound like a spoiled hag to sit here and tell you how I sipped on piña coladas and made jokes with the local guys begging for me to join them on one of their jet ski's while you were more than likely slaving away in some stiff office environment flirting with deadlines and fire-breathing bosses hanging over your back. Then again this could come as a source of inspiration for all of the many Americans who fail to take a little time off from the office. With that being said I will provide you with some Rodney Bay Beach basics.

Rodney Bay doesn't exactly stretch for miles on end, but for the proximate mile you get you're bound to be sharing your little piece of paradise with several other vacationing tourists. For the most part the beach isn't so jam-packed that it can't accommodate your own beach chair and umbrella, but you can count on making friends. If you happen to be visiting the island single (ladies) all the boys working the beach offering boat rides, parasailing adventures, jet ski rides and the opportunity to see life under water while snorkeling or scuba diving are bound to be a little flirty and offer a discounted rate. If you happen to be a honeymooning couple they'll offer just the same, but with a little less charm and for full price.

Continue reading St. Lucia There & Back Part 3: Rodney Bay Beach

St. Lucia There & Back Part 3: Rodney Bay Beach originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments