United Kingdom
Posted June 1, 2009 by Kate Hamman
It's rare to hear about Loch Ness without instantly thinking of its elusive monster, Nessie. And though exploring the lake on a boat cruise is definitely a fun and essential excursion, there are plenty of other reasons to enjoy your trip. While in lovely Loch Ness, you can also practice your step dance at a club known for its music, and then keep a watchful eye on the lake from the comfort of your hotel room.
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Jacobite: If you want to search for Nessie from the safety of a boat, Jacobite offers daily tours of the Loch, lasting from one to six hours. Some trips include stops at the historic Urquhart Castle. The one-hour Inspiration Cruise is the shortest and least expensive option; costing £11 (about $18 U.S.; check XE.com for current exchange rates) per adult.
Drink
Hootananny: After a long day on the water, you'll need to add a little stomp to your step at Hotananny's. This popular club features traditional Scottish music and contemporary hits every night. Here, you can choose from three individual venues in one place, including rock music at Mad Hatters, a lounge vibe at the Bothy Sofa Bar, and lively ceilidhs at the downstairs Ceilidh Cafe Bar. Entrance is free most evenings, and the pub serves a range of local organic ales and lagers, as well as whiskey.
Stay
Craigdarroch House Hotel: For crystal-clear views of Loch Ness, the Craigdarroch House Hotel is the only four-star property with rooms overlooking the water. This country-house hotel in Foyers is run by husband-and-wife team Elanor and Martin, who make your comfort their main priority. They've created an ambiance that takes you back to a different time, with deep wood paneling, antique furnishings, and high molded ceilings. Each room is en suite, and comes with a hospitality sweet tray upon check-in. Rooms start at £80 per person, and include a full Scottish breakfast.
To search for flights and compare prices to Inverness, which is home to Loch Ness’ nearest major airport, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: Britian on View)
Posted May 18, 2009 by Kate Hamman
When it's time once again to put on your thinking cap, look to a city like Oxford for literary stimulation. This medieval university town has been home to many great writers who studied long hours, stopped for pints to relax, and bought pub fare for sustenance here. Come see where these masters of the English language spent much of their academic lives and walk amongst the town and gown of this historical city.
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Bodleian Library: It's not surprising Oxford would have the second largest library in the U.K. Nor is it the least bit shocking it's housed in architecturally impressive buildings more than 500 years old. The Bodleian Library, whose stacks hold in excess of seven million volumes, is an outstanding resource for the written word. Guided tours give insight into both the massive collections and those literary folk who studied here, including Oscar Wilde, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. The standard one-hour tour costs £2.50 per person (about $3.85 U.S. dollars; see XE.com for current conversion rates) and covers sights such as the Duke Humfrey's medieval library and the 17th-century Convocation House and Court.
Drink
Eagle and Child: Years before their books were adapted into blockbuster films, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien would meet in this pub as part of a literary group known as "The Inklings." Rumor has it they even read from their works, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit. The "Bird and Baby," as it is affectionately called by locals, still caters to Oxford students discussing literature, but also welcomes anyone who wishes to pay their respects to the writers who once drank here. Grab a pint and take a peek at the memorabilia, which includes a plaque honoring the Inklings.
Shop
Oxford Covered Market: Serving as a place to buy goods for more than 1,000 years, the Covered Market in the heart of Oxford will take you back to Olde England. After you've admired the stalls of colorful fruits and vegetables at the greengrocer's, stop at the Oxford Cheese Company for a wedge of farmhouse cheddar or have your shoes resoled at the Oxford Cobbler. It doesn't cost a thing to browse, and you could spend days sifting through the plethora of specialty items. When your feet need a rest, grab a quick baguette with artisan crisps (British for potato chips) at mortons@work for under £4 or head home with a bag of tea from Cardews of Oxford.
To search for flights and compare prices to London, which is home to Oxford’s nearest major airport, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: Steve Geer)
Posted May 12, 2009 by Kate Hamman
York exudes English charm, especially along its winding medieval street called the Shambles. However, don't be fooled by its picturesque setting, as the city has plenty of secrets lurking in the shadows, including its reputation as one of the most haunted cities in Europe. Get to know the town by walking through its spooky history, dining with its ghosts, and drinking its tea inspired by an infamous ocean liner.
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The Ghost Trail of York: The Ghost Trail of York takes you along darkened streets at night, while you listen to tales of murder, plague, heartbreak, and revenge beyond the grave. A costumed guide waits in front of the York Minster every night at 7:30 p.m., regardless of weather, to reveal the gruesome and tragic events of York's past. Tickets cost £4.00 (about $6.00 U.S.; check XE.com for current conversion rates) and the tour lasts about one hour and 15 minutes.
Eat
Golden Fleece: When you go to a pub for spirits, it's unlikely you're thinking of the dearly departed variety. The Golden Fleece, however, typically serves both. Built in 1503, you'll find York's most haunted drinking establishment across from the historical Shambles. Skip the drinks and go right to the main attraction of comfort foods, such as homemade Yorkshire pudding. Try not to be too alarmed if you catch sight of Lady Peckett, one of the five resident spirits. For a haunting good time, you can also rent one of the four rooms and spend the night with your newfound friends. Entrees start at £6.25.
Drink
Bettys Café Tea Rooms: Bettys Café Tea Rooms on St. Helen's Square captures the elegance of afternoon tea with absolute precision. Inspired by the founder's maiden voyage aboard the Queen Mary in 1936, the ornate and extravagant interior is reminiscent of the grand ocean liner which, incidentally, is haunted. A cup of the Tea Room Blend costs £2.95, but order Yorkshire Cream Tea, served in a piping hot pot with two scones, preserves, and clotted cream for £7.95, for a truly authentic experience.
To search for flights and compare prices to Leeds, which is home to York’s nearest major airport, please use our price-comparison tool.
(Photo: VisitYork.org)
Posted May 7, 2009 by Nicki Krawczyk
In today’s economy, we’re all trying to be a little extra creative about saving and making money. Some of us are canceling cable. Some of us are taking second jobs. Some of us are building tanks for jellyfish.
If you’re an airline, of course, things are no different. You’re still looking to cut corners and bring in cash to make up for deficits—your deficits just tend to be closer to the million-to-billion dollar range. So...yeah, you might have to get creative. Whereas offering discount flights may have cut the mustard in the past, you might have to step it up a bit now. Charging for luggage? Been there. Charging for meals? Done that. Charging one person for two seats? Puh-lease. Well, leave it to the British to think out of the box, if not out of the plane.
Budget UK airline, easyJet, has just announced its plan to hold in-flight weddingsas a way of generating a little extra cash. And, oh, it’s not just for those lucky couples who met by being sat side-by-side found love in the great blue yonder. easyJet suggests that perhaps couples might enjoy saving time and save money by just getting married on the way to their honeymoon destination. (Saving time on their wedding: Many a bride’s dream come true.)
Of course, before easyJet can swing this new revenue-generator, they’ll have to change the law in the UK that states that wedding ceremonies can only legally be conducted in a permanent (non-moving) structure and be officiated by a minister of religion or registrar employed by a local council. Details, details.
It’s a little zany and I can’t say that I can picture printing “easyJet” on my wedding invitations, but I definitely applaud the thinking. Obviously, doing business the same old way isn’t helping the airline industry to turn a profit; putting them back in the black is going to require some risk-taking and more than a little creativity. But do I think it’s possible for them to muster the talents and come up with some winning ways to make money. Oh, I do. (Couldn’t resist.)
(Photo: www.magicmud.com)
Posted April 3, 2009 by Katie Blais
Truly a tale for these times. British traveler Paul Smith has completed a trip around the world solely using the good will of others on Twitter. While most people use Twitter to stalk their favorite celebs or tell everyone they are stuck in traffic on their way to work, Smith decided to use it for a good cause, helping him get from London to New Zealand all while raising around $7,000 for his water charity. The rules were that he couldn’t plan anything more than three days in advance, he couldn’t stay in any destination longer than 48 hours, and it had to come from one of his friends on Twitter.
At the end of his journey (he was just shy of his final destination of World Heritage Site Campbell Island because the next ferry doesn’t depart until November), Paul had 11,000 followers on Twitter and had gained enough media attention that he was able to score a free flight to New Zealand and got his picture taken with Liv Tyler—not too shabby if you ask me!
It makes me want to use my Facebook and Twitter accounts for than just posting pictures from last weekend’s shenanigans and picking my top five favorite cartoons.
Posted March 20, 2009 by Katie Blais
A consumer bureau in The U.K. has given us another reason to not check our bags. Besides those pesky checked-bag fees, it has been reported that carriers lost some 40 million bags back in 2007, with a projected annual total of 70 million by 2019 … EEK! I have been lucky enough to never lose a bag during a flight—quick, I need some wood to knock on—but I always wait with baited breath at the baggage claim every time I fly. So what to do when your underwear is in Denver and you are in Dusseldorf, or even worse, some jerk walks off with your bag?
Unfortunately, since airlines have different rules for what constitutes a missing bag versus a lost bag, it can take anywhere from a week to even a month for a resolution and then there is a lot of rigmarole as to what you can actually claim. The amount varies depending on whether you are on a domestic or international flight, what airline you were flying with etc, etc. Once you and the airline have come to terms with an amount, you can wait months to actually get paid out … fun times!
So besides jumping on top of your bag and riding it through the turnstile until it gets loaded, what can you do to make sure your bag arrives at the gate with you? A few tips are to always:
- label your bag with your home address
- pay close attention when you check in that the correct tags are put on your bag
- have something on your bag that makes it stand out (I feel less foolish about having a flowered suitcase now) in a sea of black Samsonites
- keep your valuables (both monetary and sentimental) with you in your carry-on.
(Photo: Google Images)
Posted April 11, 2008 by Heather Gilbert
Admittedly, the chances of my inheriting a not-yet-discovered trust fund and trotting around the globe are slim-to-none. It’s sad but true. I have, however, thought that perhaps one day I would travel in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class cabin and enjoy a lavish yet complimentary in-flight spa treatment by one of their trained “In-Flight Beauty Therapists.” Perhaps I’d elect for a “Handsome Hands” manicure or a “Back in the Clouds” upper back massage en route to London. What better way to rejuvenate at 30,000 feet?
Alas, dear reader, these dreams might be dashed. Virgin recently held a crisis meeting with all of its In-Flight Beauty Therapists to discuss the fate of these services. And a source who has had the privilege of flying Upper Class to the U.K. alerted me to an email he received that said the airline is “reviewing the future” of in-flight beauty.
Why? Apparently Sir Richard feels that expanded ground spa offerings at Virgin’s Clubhouse are much more valuable and appreciated services. Sure, it’s great to get your hair blown out by a Bumble and bumble stylist whilst awaiting your transatlantic voyage, but it lacks the cachet of saying you had your nails done en route to your destination. En route! That’s so much cooler! And the bragging rights, don’t even start!
Undoubtedly these cuts have more to do with rising fuel costs and the global credit crunch than passenger preferences. Just another example of the airlines’ need to cut corners. Unfortunately, I’d rather they cut cuticles.
Posted April 9, 2008 by Zak Patten
The Wall Street Journal recently suggested that airlines actively seek celebrity passengers because they bring the carriers cachet that ordinary schmoes like you and me are dazzled by. So for an international superstar to be banned by an airline, he or she would have to do something pretty bad.
Enter Naomi Campbell. The 38-year old supermodel (who may be demoted to simply "model" after her latest escapade) was arrested at London's Heathrow airport, where she was due to catch a British Airways flight to Los Angeles. When BA employees were unable to locate a missing bag of Miss Campell's, she allegedly "flew into a rage" and wound up spitting at one of the police officers who were trying to detain her. I guess if you're going to be spat at by someone, you could do worse than a supermodel, but saliva is saliva and laws are laws, so Campbell got dragged off by the cops.
Perhaps one isolated "babe behaving badly" incident might have been overlooked by British Airways, but the leggy Campbell has a history of violence:
- Throwing a telephone at an assistant
- Beating an assistant with a BlackBerry.
- Assault on an Italian actress.
- Another instance of battering an employee with a cell phone.
I'd say British Airways should be relieved to get out of the transporting-Naomi-Campbell business with no actual bloodshed.
(Photo: Virgin Media)
Posted April 3, 2008 by Zak Patten
If you're a traveler like me, your typical vacation will include a trip up to a scenic lookout where you're likely to have the best view of the place you're visiting. And if you're a big wuss like me, as soon as you get to the most scenic vantage point, your knees will start wobbling and you'll grip the handrail with vise-like intensity/strength, thinking, "I could've gotten this view from a postcard in the lobby!" For those of you who like the idea (if not necessarily the reality) of a great view, I've put together the following list of 10 attractions, each of which is extremely nosebleed-friendly.
10. The CN Tower
The CN Tower is 553 meters tall, which is a Canadian way of saying 1,815 feet off the ground. Technically, it's the "tallest free-standing structure on land," but that just means it's not a place where people live or work. Which is just fine by me, because I have absolutely no interest in living or working anyplace higher than my third-floor bedroom or fourth-floor office. The CN Tower was completed in 1973 and is used primarily for TV and radio broadcasts, as well as tourism. Fans of 1940s music will be dismayed to learn that there is no AM antenna on the Tower.
Overcompensate much?
9. The Jungfraujoch Railway Station
What do you get when you cross the Swiss Alps with Europe's love of passenger trains? The Jungfraujoch railway station, which is 11,333 feet above sea level. Okay, that's not much of a joke, but the Swiss aren't known for their sense of humor (kidding!). So once you've made this hair-raising train trip to the top of the world, what can you do besides gorging on Swiss chocolate and fondue? How about checking out an Ice Palace or a ski and snowboard park that's only open in the summer?
om nom nom
8. Mt. Kilimanjaro
For number eight, let's take this a notch higher. It's true that Mt. Kilimanjaro makes the Alps look puny. But with a summit of 19,340 feet, Africa's tallest peak is actually accessible enough for real people to climb, sans oxygen tanks. Of course that's not to say it's an easy task, especially if you're the type who favors the escalator to the stairs.
Floor 5895: Neon hiking gear and ridiculous hats
7. London Eye
Coming back a little closer to earth, the London Eye is essentially a big ol' Ferris wheel. If that doesn't wow you, consider that the 443-foot-tall ride was the tallest of its kind when it opened in 2000. If you want to make your visit more upscale, you can purchase a glass of Champagne for an additional £30. I think I'll pass on the pricey drink. I'll be happy just to hold down my lunch while in one of the pods.
OH NOES!
6. Singapore Flyer
With about 100 more vertical feet than the London Eye, The Singapore Flyer took the role of world's highest Ferris wheel when it opened this month. One of the coolest things about the Flyer is its taxi-driver promotion, which currently awards all cabbies a free ride. I guess the idea is they'll be so taken with their trip that they won't be able to stop talking up the attraction to their customers. I'm assuming they're not trying to recruit the drivers to be "pod pilots." Just one warning to those who do take the Flyer: Don't write your name in your cabin. They're not big fans of graffiti in Singapore.
Never Forget: Michael P. Fay
5. The Top of the Rock
The Empire State Building is great, but it's soooo 20th century. For the latest in Big Apple views, you gotta hit the Top of the Rock. The "Rock" in question is Rockefeller Center, and while its 850-foot-high observation deck doesn't reach the Empire State Building's height, , this deck affords a much better view of the ESB than you'll get when you're standing on the building itself. Oh, and our sister site TripAdvisor's users rank the Top of the Rock number one of 1,296 New York City attractions. 'Nuff said.
Hey, is that Tina Fey? Let's not forget her either.
4. La Paz
Just about any spot in La Paz, Bolivia, the world's highest capital city, can make the most grounded person feel as if his head is in the clouds. At 11,942 feet in elevation, La Paz is an attraction in itself. If you go, make sure you're prepared for the altitude. You can take a medicine such as Diamox, or just chew some coca leaves like the locals. La Paz's Museum of the Coca Plant is the place to learn more about the coca leaf and all its interesting uses.
im in ur bolivia sniffin ur cokez
3. The Edge
It might be in Melbourne, Australia, but there is nothing "Down Under" about The Edge, a glass cube that juts out of the Eureka Tower, which at 975 feet is the world's tallest residential building. The worst … er, best part of it all is that The Edge doesn't just sit there like all the other observation decks. No, you get in and it physically moves outward until you're hanging out with nothing between you and a long fall but some chintzy glass panel.
Hello, Hello. I'm at a place called Vertigo.
2. Taipei 101
The Taipei 101 is currently the world's tallest building at a height of 1,670 feet, though the Burj Dubai is set to overtake that record when it officially opens. At that height, I'm really not interested in which one is taller, but rather how the hell I can get down safely. What I think is coolest about the 101 is not just its height, but how big it is relative to the buildings around it. It's as if former NBA big man Manute Bol decided to show up and play pickup hoops with you and your friends. Basically, the Taipei 101 doesn't care about its neighboring skyscrapers—it's going to dunk on their asses.
Manute enlarged to show texture.
1. Insanity, the Ride
Which brings us to number one. Yes, Insanity, the Ride, at Las Vegas' Stratosphere, is not only the most vertigo-inducing attraction in the world, it's probably the most wetting-your-pants/barfing-your-guts-out one as well. The casino-hotel stands 1,149 feet above The Strip, which is what you'll be gaping down at as you are spun at three-Gs by a "massive mechanical arm" extended 64 feet out from the building. I can barely even look at the picture below without feeling queasy.
Serving suggestion, some assembly required, ManuteBucketTM not included.
Posted March 10, 2008 by Carl Unger
A man has apparently been living in London’s Gatwick Airport for the better part of the past three years, despite several forced removals and brief imprisonments during that time. Anthony Delaney, out of work for several years after losing his job as a chef, ate, slept, showered, and generally passed the time at Gatwick, always returning after his occasional departures (both to the local jail and the unemployment office to collect his checks).
Personally, I didn’t initially see any harm in an individual, clearly in desperate and dire straits, shacking up in an airport. There’s plenty of food (overpriced, low-quality fast food mostly, but I digress), bathroom facilities, even showers, apparently. It’s a public place, so why not?
Then I thought—ah, security. I’m assuming Delaney spent most of his time outside the security checkpoints in the general ticketing and waiting area, and didn’t often venture into the boarding areas. But still, the possibility of a rogue airport resident infiltrating security probably makes a few people nervous, even though a homeless chef hardly seems like a clear and present danger.
Disregarding these legitimate concerns, I do have to applaud Delaney for his resourcefulness. He found the one place where food, clothing, shelter, bathing facilities, and even nonstop entertainment are housed under one roof. If I ever open my checking account and find myself a little light, I know where I’m heading. I mean, if Tom Hanks can pull it off...
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