Travellia

In my last blog entry I described how we travelled from the UK to the Flemish coast in Belgium, via ferry, bus and tram. Our destination was Oostende, a city which is, essentially, a beach resort, but also has a large sea port. We were hoping for sunny weather so we could make use of the vast swathes of beach that Oosende has to offer, but unfortunately it was cold and gray, and thus didn't make it quite that far. Oostende doesn't have many architectural gems, in fact most of the buildings are quite ordinary looking. However, despite the almost dull looking surroundings, it is a pleasant place to visit. We stayed in the Hote l du Parc - very basic, but adequate. It's location is convenient, being right in the centre of town, and in walking distance to the beach, marina and train station. There is also a casino close by, however we decided to avoid that and spend our money on more worthwhile things, like food and drink! Actually we ended up savouring quite a few dif

Recently we had a few days off work to do some travelling, however we had left it a bit late to book any cheap airline seats . We thought of alternative, cheap methods of going into Europe and devised a way of getting to Belgium, somewhere we had never been before. We were prepared for a day of travelling. We took a ferry, once again, from Dover to Calais - we took the first one that was leaving, which happened to be P&O . Once in Calais, we took the bus from the port to the main train station, outside of which we waited for another bus which would take us to Dunkirk. Leaving from the front of the train station, the bus journey to Dunkirk took about 45 minutes. From what we saw of Dunkirk, it looked a bit run-down and shabby, not really what we were expecting. Admittedly, we didn't have time to explore the town fully. We arrived at the main station in Dunkirk and the next step was to get another bus to Adinkerke/De Panne station in Belgium. After a bit of fruitless sea

Last Saturday, around lunch time, the weather happened to be sunny and bright. Debating how we could best make use of such a rare occurrence of sunshine, we concluded that it might be a good idea to take a ferry somewhere - in this case, as foot passengers, from Dover to Calais in France. Many people use this route for alcohol, cigarette and other shopping supplies, however we were going merely for the journey, to enjoy a trip on the sea and have a look at the city and port that lay on the other side of the English Channel. We jumped in the car and made our way to the "White Cliffs of Dover" , not entirely sure how long the drive would take, but Google Maps had assured us it wouldn't be over two hours. We were pleasantly surprised that we managed to reach Dover in about an hour and a half - no, not due to excessive speed but because the traffic happened to be rather light. On arrival at the ferry travel and information centre, we had the option of choosing betw

The city of Brighton is a popular seaside escape, particularly with London residents, being only about an hour away by train. Situated on the southern coast, almost immediately due south of London, it has quite a trendy, fun atmosphere (well, it did the day we were there anyway!). Frequent trains leave from Victoria and London Bridge stations in London with Southern Railway and First Capital Connect . It's probably worth taking the train rather than driving, as the city often gets congested and it's difficult to find parking. Admittedly we drove to Brighton from Eastbourne and managed to find some parking, but not without some difficulty (and expense). We began the day by walking to the Royal Pavilion , an interesting and impressive royal residence that was built in the 19th Century for the Prince Regent. The architectural structure has a definite Indian flavour and the interior is richly decorated in mainly Chinese styles. There are attractive gardens surrounding the P

Eastbourne is a quiet coastal town in southern England, most famous for its Victorian style beach front and pier. We have been to Eastbourne a few times to visit friends who live there, and although it's not as vibrant and popular as Brighton , it's still a relaxing place to visit. It seems to have a reputation for being more appealing to the older, retired generation, however it is still possible for the likes of us younger travellers to have a good time there. Eastbourne is about an hour and a half train ride from London, departing from both London Bridge and Victoria mainline stations with Southern Railway . We usually drive, the route being quite scenic, however it does to tend to get quite congested at certain points along the way, making us ponder every time why we didn't take the train! There are a vast array of hotels and B&Bs in the town, most of them lining the seafront, and on one occassion we booked a room at the Langham Hotel through Lastminute .

Stratford-upon-Avon is most well known for being the birth place of William Shakespeare , and therefore host to countless tourists every year, wanting to view the sites associated with the famous Elizabethan playwright. A market town since the Middle Ages, Stratford-upon-Avon is steeped in history and situated in the picturesque English midlands countryside. Having good rail and road links, the town was our destination of choice for a short weekend break from London. We left from Marylebone station with Chiltern Railways , taking just under two and a half hours to get there. Travelling by car, along the M40, takes approximately the same amount of time and a good way of preparing a route beforehand is by visiting a site such as Google Maps and obtaining directions. National Express also offers services to Stratford-upon-Avon, taking about three hours from London. There are also numerous organised one-day bus tours from London, which usually pass through Oxford and the su

When we lived in London we enjoyed venturing out for short day trips to refresh and re-energise ourselves from the madness of the city. It was with much interest we started to hear talk from friends and colleagues of a seaside town in Kent called Whitstable, which, we were assured, was a perfect day or weekend escape from "the Big Smoke", being just under an hour and a half away by train. How right they were! Leaving from Victoria Station, there are frequent train journeys with Southeastern Railway to Whitstable about every half an hour, with day return ticket prices starting at £18.10. Admittedly, train travel isn't cheap in the UK, and if driving isn't an option, then an alternative is to take the bus. National Express has services from London Victoria to Whistab le with day returns from £12.40, taking just under two hours each way. Personally, we prefer to spend the extra money on a more comfortable and speedier train journey. On arrival we headed toward

When planning a trip to South Africa, one part of the country that should not be missed is the majestic Drakensberg mountain range, which stretches for 200 kilometres. A world heritage site, the greater proportion of this magnificent range falls in the province of Kwazulu-Natal , and is known to have the highest peaks in the country. The dramatic beauty of the Drakensberg is a well known tourist destination, with the northern and central regions being the most frequently visited. On our last trip to the Drakensberg we decided to venture into the northern part of the region, specifically to the Royal Natal National Park . About a five hour drive from Johannesburg, the National Park has excellent walking and hiking trails in amazing surroundings. It also has accommodation facilities, including the Thendele Hutted Camp , which is where we stayed, in a small self-catering cottage. The views surrounding the camp are incredibly beautiful, as it is located at the base of the majesti

Cambridge is best known for its university, one of the oldest in the world, and regarded by some as one of the most prestigious. Situated to the north of London, the city is a mix of antiquated and contemporary architecture, combining to create, in my opinion, a visually appealing and harmonious appearance. Many of the buildings, streets and passageways of Cambridge imbue the city with a tradional and historical atmosphere, however, as old as various parts of the city might be, it also has trendy shopping establishments and a vibrant nightlife. By car, Cambridge takes about two hours from London. As with many other cities and towns in the UK, it is difficult to find parking in Cambridge city centre, however there are 'park and ride' services on the outskirts of the city, whereby you can park your car and get a bus into the centre. There are also frequent train services, run by First Capital Connect and One , between King's Cross and Liverpool Street stations in Londo

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, located in the south of the country. A large, active seaport, Cork has two branches of the River Lee flowing through the city, forming an island on which the city centre is built and providing it with a certain charm. Steeped in history, as it has been suggested that Cork already had a settlement in the 6th Century, the city exhibits some interesting architecture and numerous bridges. Compact in size, with friendly and helpful locals, Cork was our choice of destination for a few days break, and also included visiting nearby Kinsale and Blarney. We managed to get cheap flights with Ryanair , although this involved an extremely early morning flight, and therefore meant we lost sleep but saved some money. The flight took about an hour to Cork's International Airport, which lies to the south of the city. On arrival, we caught a bus outside the airport to the main bus terminus in Cork city, which cost € 3.80 each, a

Majestic cliffs, rolling hills, vast swathes of blue sea and sandy beaches, quaint villages and castle ruins - all these,and more, combine to create the beautiful landscape known as Cornwall. Situated on the tip of the south-west peninsula of England, and located to the west of the River Tamar, Cornwall is an especially picturesque part of the country and ideal for relaxing holidays. Steeped in history and of Celtic heritage, Cornwall can be reached by car, train, plane or bus. The main airport in Cornwall is situated in Newquay , a town popular with surfers. National Express also operates a bus service to Newquay, however, if you are leaving from London, or anywhere else in the vicinity, be prepared to spend a long time travelling, as the journey takes over seven hours. There are currently three train operators with services to Cornwall. Although it is not essential, it is useful to have a car in Cornwall, to be able to fully experience the different sights and attractions located

Regarded as the most romantic city in Europe, Paris, capital of France, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Travellers flock each year to this majestic place to view its well known landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Some find Paris matches up to the wonders printed in travel guides and seen in blockbuster romances, whereas others seem to be a little letdown and disappointed with, what is supposed to be, a magical experience. I am glad to say we are not of the latter persuasion, and we genuinely find the locals friendly and love the city. The most comfortable way to travel to Paris from London, in our opinion, is with the Eurostar train. Departing from Waterloo Station, it takes approximately two and a half hours to reach the Gare du Nord station in Paris. During this time one can relax, enjoy a drink, have a few snacks and enjoy the smooth journey through the Channel tunnel - which is precisely what we did. Somet

Bath is a city situated on the River Avon in South West England. As a World Heritage Site, the town is steeped in history, and was particularly popular in the 18th Century as a spa town. The city is most well known for such landmarks as the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and its elegant crescents of Georgian architecture. A big tourist attraction, Bath is also one of our favourite cities in the UK. Bath is easily accessible by various modes of transport. It is about a two hour drive from London, although it can sometimes be difficult to find parking in the centre of town. There is a train station in the centre of Bath, with frequent services to and from other parts of the country, including London. The closest airport is Bristol International Airport, which is about 20 miles away - one therefore needs to get the Flyer bus from the airport, which goes to Bristol Meads train station, and from there catch a train to Bath. If money isn't an issue, then an easier method is simply

We have friends who live in Amsterdam who offered us free accommodation if we happened to travel that way - it was all the luring we needed, and soon we were headed to the capital of Holland. A city of interesting historical architecture, museums, galleries, canals and parks. It is also popular for its coffee shops and vibrant nightlife, not forgetting the infamous red light district. We booked our flights with Bmi , another budget airline, travelling from Heathrow to Amsterdam's Schipol Airport. The flight took just over an hour, and once out of passport control and reclaiming our luggage, we waited outside for a bus that would take us directly to the suburb of Amstelveen, where our friends stay. It wasn't too difficult to find and the area is conveniently loca ted for public transport, with bus and tram links to the city centre. The following morning, after a sumptuous continental breakfast (including lots of Dutch cheese), we made our way towards the centre of Amster