Rhodes – Intriguing History, Beautiful Beaches and Aquamarine Sea

Rhodes is the largest in the group of Greek Islands known as the Dodecanese, situated off the West coast of Turkey.  With many days of hot sunshine, friendly locals and delicious cuisine, including wonderful fresh fish and seafood, Rhodes is a popular destination for couples, families and groups.  Whether you want a relaxing week on a gorgeous beach with amazingly clear water, or a historical trip back in time to appreciate medieval marvels, Rhodes is the perfect place for you.

Rhodes Old Town by Kerry Silver

Rhodes Old Town by Kerry Silver

The rich history of Rhodes is deeply intertwined with mythology; the ancient cities of Lindos, Camiros and Ialysos were named after the three sons of Cercafos, who came into being when the sun God Helios chose Rhodes as his bride.  Today, the largest town on the island is Rhodes Town, founded in 408BC.  Its Old Town area is a World Heritage Site and the largest inhabited medieval town in Europe. The 12 metre thick city walls surrounding the Old Town are one of the finest examples of medieval defensive architecture that survive today.  Wander through the squares, streets and alleyways of this stunning, ancient town and you will see a discovery round every corner.  From the gleaming white tower rising from the synagogue in the Jewish Quarter, to the imposing 15th century knights hospital, which now houses the archeological museum; there is something for everyone.

Rhodes-Statue Marking Colossus Feet by Bruce HH

Rhodes-Statue Marking Colossus Feet by Bruce HH

When you have had your fill of history, stop to enjoy a romantic meal at one of the many restaurants in the Old Town, before taking a stroll round the picturesque harbour area outside the town walls. The New Town area is home to the Acropolis of Rhodes, and offers a wonderful beach with many water-based activities.  A scuba diving experience will give you the chance to truly appreciate the beautiful aquamarine waters around Rhodes and discover a totally new, underwater world!

Lindos is the most famous of the ancient cities, situated 48 kilometres from Rhodes Town. Charming 17th century houses all in the dazzling white, typical of Greek buildings, line the narrow winding lanes; and there is a great selection of amazing rooftop restaurants to visit, making Lindos a must-see for any visitor to Rhodes.  With two stunning beaches and beautiful calm sea perfect for swimming and snorkeling, it is also the ideal place to relax and unwind.  Make sure you take time to explore the Acropolis of Lindos, which rises spectacularly above the village.  You can either reach it on foot, or hitch a lift from the donkey terminus near the main square.

Rhodes Old Town bar by Christian Ghe

Rhodes Old Town bar by Christian Ghe

If you want to get away from it all, Southern Rhodes offers quiet beaches and a tranquil atmosphere, and for those wishing to discover the Greek way of life, you can visit the interior of the island to discover the wine and olive growing regions.   With everything you could wish for on your holiday, and a new discovery around every corner, Rhodes is certainly a place to make memories that will last you a lifetime.

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Are You Crazy? Coasteering Guide for the Staycation Generation

 You don’t have to head to foreign climes to get your fix of adrenaline! Nope, here in the UK we are blessed with a wonderful coastline that is perfect for one crazy sport – Coasteering! If you fancy getting your feet wet, but think leaping of a cliff is more fun than paddling, check out our guide to Coasteering in the UK (and a great Go Provideo of some folks having fun on the Isle of Man!)

What is it?
It is a way of getting back to nature – quite simply by traversing the coastline at sea level, getting in the water and out again as the rugged terrain dictates. The extreme bit is actually optional, you don’t have to choose a course that requires climbing a cliff face and jumping into the water – but, that to be honest is what attracts adrenaline junkies to this sport!



Coasteering on the Isle Of Man Filmed on a Go Pro HD3 Courtesy of Nick Shimmin

Who would enjoy it?
Anyone with a sense of adventure, who likes a dip in the sea and getting up close and personal with the natural world. The views are guaranteed to be amazing, you don’t have to be a super-strong swimmer, or be able to scale a cliff face like Spiderman.

What do you need?
Most places will have all the equipment you need for taking part – this includes:
Wetsuit
Helmet
Buoyancy aid
Trainers or thick-soled wetsuit boots

How do I get started?
Sign up to one of the many accredited Coasteering providers that base themselves around the best locations on the country! You can go on an all day adventure, or just try it out for a couple of hours.

Where are the best places to go?
Well, the lovely bunch in the video we found chose the Isle of Man. Other places renowned for attracting a Coasteering crowd include:

  • Cornwall
  • Devon
  • Dorset
  • Wales
  • West Scotland

If you are new to Coasteering ALWAYS make sure you go with an accredited and insured guide. If you are an extreme sports junky, with many moons of experience under your belt – how about you check out our Wintersports Insurance Policy, it covers everything from shark diving to glacier walking!

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10 Essential Car Hire Tips for Fly Drive Holidays

Whether you’re heading on a road trip, or just picking up a hire car from the airport – you need to make sure that you know what you are looking for in a hire car, and be ready for the journey ahead. Here are our top tips for getting it right on a fly drive holiday.

Fly and Drive by Alfred Bina

Fly and Drive by Alfred Bina

1. Research car hire companies

Whether you are planning to pick up a car from the airport when you land or get a car from a local car hire company at your destination – it is wise to do your research first. You will obviously want to get the best price possible, but should also weigh up how much it will cost against the reputation of the company. Also, think about your journey, if you are flying out from another airport – can you leave the hire car at another branch?

2. Choose the right car

Make sure you choose a car that can comfortably accommodate the amount of people who are travelling, and any luggage that you are taking. If you are on a road trip and will be in the car all the time – think about your personal comfort. Having air con, heating, comfy seats, leg room in the back, a stereo and the like can make a huge difference to a long journey! Also consider the terrain you’ll be travelling through – does it call for a 4×4 or can you get away with a Cadillac?

3. Get car hire excess insurance

We have said quite a lot about this lately – without it you could face some hefty bills if anything goes wrong (even if it isn’t your fault!). See what Norbert has to say about it in our recent Car Hire TV Ad.

4. Plan your journey

Before you leave, map out your route. If on a road trip, break the journey into manageable chunks and book accommodation in advance. You can read more about planning a road trip in one of our earlier blogs, Planning a Road Trip. if you are not going on a road trip – are you departing from the same place that you arrived? Not all car hire companies have places where you can drop off a hire car – many may require you take them back to where you picked up.

5. Research the Highway Code for your destination

To void any nasty accidents, brush up on the highway code of the country you are visiting. It isn’t all just about what side of the road you drive on; rights of way, correct usage of lights, approaching roundabouts and pedestrian rights crossing roads can vary from country to country. Learning a few new words for road signs is also beneficial!

6. Pack your ID

Obvious, but easy to forget – take both parts of your driving license and any other documents the car hire company has said you must have to be able to drive away one of their cars!

7. Get some sleep

Plan your rest on the flight, especially if it is long haul. There’s nothing quite as dangerous as driving an unfamiliar car in an unfamiliar country after no sleep. If you are unsure about how you feel, book accommodation nearby so you can get some rest as soon as you arrive!

8. Don’t be sweet talked into an upgrade

When you pick up your hire car, the chances are the sales person will try and get you to fork out a bit extra for an upgrade. If you have done your research right at the start, you will be sure that you have the right car. Don’t go for a bigger gas guzzler if you don’t need to, or try to squeeze yourself into a sporty number just because it seems like a good idea at the time!

9. Check the vehicle

If a car hire company thinks that any damage has been done to the car while in your care, they will bill you for repairs. Therefore it is essential to make sure that every dent, scratch, scuff or scrape has been logged before driving off – inside and out.

10. Understand the controls

You may be eager to get on your way, but take some time to get to know your car before setting off. Knowing where headlights, hazards and horn are before driving will save you faffing, and possibly having an accident whilst looking for them when driving. Many new cars have a button ignition that requires clutch control to activate, and new fangled handbrakes (sans handle!) that take time to master. Finding your way around a modern motor should be done at the car hire centre, so at least you can ask for assistance if needed.

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Meet Norbert in Our TV Ad for Car Hire Excess Insurance

We would like you to meet Norbert, the star of our new TV ad for car hire excess insurance that is airing from 20th September on Sky News, Discovery, National Geographic and Travel Channel.

In some blatant blowing of our own trumpet, we think the transformation of Norbert from a nervous wreck into a conscientious chap (thanks to our brilliant insurance policy) is a simple, to the point and fun way to get across the importance of taking out car hire excess insurance.

You can read all about our policy later on in the post, but first – here is the star of the ad in action! Oh, before we go, one more blow of the trumpet – we have been listed as one of the cheapest car hire excess insurance providers!

So – Car Hire Excess Insurance, what does it all mean?

Well, car hire companies will always provide you with insurance, but this cover is limited and there will be exclusions.

Exclusions are commonly tyres, windscreens, the underside of the car, loss of keys, (the list goes on…) all things our policy covers! Any loss or damage that affects the exclusions will have to be paid for by you, the person who has hired the car, as well as any excess that has to be paid on a claim. These figures can be extortionate – even if the theft of damage is not your fault.

As if that wasn’t unfair enough, the T&Cs vary from country to country – as does the hefty bill for unprepared drivers!

For example in the US and Canada drivers must have third party liability that provides cover for at least $1 million (that will be our US Car Hire Excess insurance).  This protects a driver if they have been deemed as responsible for an accident. Without it, the bills could literally be bankrupting.

We have already said that we have been listed as the cheapest providers of car hire excess insurance – here is how our figures add up:

Our USA and Canada Car Hire Excess Insurance includes the third party liability cover, with daily rates starting at £6 – YES JUST £6 for a million dollars worth of cover!

Our Car Hire Excess Insurance only costs £1.85 a day! We must be mad!

Much cheaper than paying through the nose for some lost keys and arguing with the car hire provider we are sure you will agree!

If you would like to know more about what we offer (not that Norbert hasn’t summed it up succinctly), give us a call on 01892 83 33 38

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Choose My Network Review – Travel App Of The Month September ’13

Choose My Network logoIf roaming charges get you down when travelling abroad, then you’ll be pleased to know that the network selected abroad by your operator is not the only one available to you! There may be cheaper options, as well as ones with better connection.

Yes, you have a choice – and this nifty app helps you make that selection based on what is most important to you.

 

What does Choose My Network Do?

The aim is to lower you phone bill, or connect to a network that provides a superior service.

After locating the country you are in, Choose My Network ranks the available networks in that country and provides a rating for:

  • Call prices
  • Data prices
  • Network quality
  • User Rating

This enables users to choose a network based on what is most important, ideal for the occasional traveller, plane hopping-parent and business people the world over.

Choose My Network screenshots

 

Additional Features

This app does what it says on the tin – the only additional feature is the option to personally rate a network.

The updated version also allows you to view operator details before you jet off!

Choose My Network Reviews

The reviews on Google Play are a majority thumbs up, with the most common comment as ‘good app’. There is a minority that say it didn’t work for them in certain countries.

Choose My Network google play review

Unfortunately at the time of review, the iPhone version was unavailable to view.

 

Download Choose My Network

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Discovering the Ancient City of Ephesus, Turkey

In our recent travel guide, we shared our travel tips on visiting the town of Kuşadası in Turkey – and we featured the ancient ruins of Ephesus as a must-see place for visitors, just a short drive away.

To share the joys of this not so hidden gem more, check out this great video clip which is a veritable drive-thru history tour of the site. Plus we have included some great Ephesus facts for you to read below!

Ephesus Facts!

• Ephesus was the second largest city of the Roman Empire and home to quarter of a million people

• The Virgin Mary lived in a small cottage near Ephesus

• The columns of Artemis stood an impressive 30 meters high

• Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean

• The library housed between 12,000-15,000 scrolls

• The city contained a theatre, Odeon, state agora, public toilets, a brothel and monuments to the emperors

 

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Getaway Guide to Kuşadası Town in Turkey

Kuşadası Town on the west coast of Turkey boasts stunning coastal views, a vibrant nightlife and access to some of the best ‘Genuine Fakes’ in the bustling shopping area of the town. Here is everything you need to know to make a stay here a trip of a lifetime!

Turkish Moon by Anthony Freeman

Turkish Moon by Anthony Freeman

Getting There

To reach Kuşadası, you’ll need to fly into Izmir and take a taxi transfer to the town. This is only about 45 minutes to an hour and costs between 120TL (Turkish Lira), which is about £35, and 200TL.

Travellers from the UK will require a Visa to enter the country. These are no longer available upon entry – instead Turkish Authorities require that travellers purchase a visa online beforehand from www.evisa.gov.tr/en/tour – expect to pay around £12 depending on exchange rates (they charge in USD) and don’t forget to print it off and take it with you!

 

Things to Do

Sightseeing – Nearby Ephesus is a cultural and historical delight – an ancient city with a diverse history that stretches back over thousands of years. Here you will find the remains of ancient Greek and more recent Roman architecture including the amazing marble street, the Temple of Artemis, Library of Celsus and of course the very impressive amphitheatre.

As one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean during the Roman period, there is an awesome sense of scale still present at this attraction.  Ephesus is just a 15 minute drive from Kuşadası, taxis from the town will take you to the entrance and meet you at the other end of the site 2 hours later. Take plenty of water and a hat at is a long, hot tour from end to end.

Library of Celsus by Anthony Freeman

Library of Celsus by Anthony Freeman

Eating and Drinking – As quite a tourist haven, wherever you go you in Kuşadası  you will find a huge variety of food available from all over the world, but it is a crying shame not to make the most of local dishes, which should be served in your hotel as well as nearby eateries. This is primarily a selection of meze dishes and bread followed by fish served with a Mediterranean salad.

Choose your fish when you choose your meze selection, and the fish will be brought out once you have finished tucking into your dips and small fish and vegetable dishes. Delicious!

Kuşadası Sea Views from Palm Hotel by Anthony Freeman

Kuşadası Sea Views from Palm Hotel by Anthony Freeman

 

Shopping – The market streets of Kuşadası are a technicolour delight, selling all things Turkish from colourful lamps, bowls and trinkets to what is quite possibly the most astounding selection of Genuine Fake products in the world. Whether Gucci, Prada, Ugg or Hugo Boss is your cup of tea, you’ll find it here VERY very cheap!

The shopkeepers and assistants here are incredibly friendly and will always offer to ‘make you a very good price’ – so get your haggling boots on and bag a bargain!

Kuşadası__Shop_by_Anthony_Freeman

Cautionary Notes

Traffic – It is hectic! Avoid crossing anywhere near a junction, and step out carefully even on the pedestrian crossings which are flanked by parked cars. Bear in mind – the traffic does not stop here for pedestrians, but they are a little more aware that someone may be stepping out.

Travel insurance – Keep your insurance documents with you to ensure that should anything happen, you will receive the right treatment from the right doctor to satisfy insurance terms and conditions. If you access medical treatment without the hospital seeing your insurance first, you may find that treatment received is from a contracted private doctor. Although the hospital room and equipment used may well probably be covered automatically, you could find that payment will be expected to cover the doctor’s fees before you are released from hospital. This can run into tens of thousands of pounds. For more advice, get in touch with our travel insurance experts.

Souvenirs – The Turkish authorities are keen to keep their antiquities in their country. Anyone found to be taking home a souvenir rock from Ephesus, a coin, fossil or other such memorabilia could face imprisonment.

Stray cats and dogs – There are stray cats, kittens, dogs and puppies a plenty in Kuşadası, all of which appear very cute and quite docile. Expect them to come sniffing round for food, feel free to feed them, but be warned that in the colder months when less tourists are about they are less friendly because they are hungry.

Cats at Ephesus by Anthony Freeman

Cats at Ephesus by Anthony Freeman

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Maps With Me – Travel App Of The Month August 2013!

mapwithme_logo

 

 

 

This app promises to save you money and roaming charges by making detailed maps of the world available to view offline. It is available as a free version (lite) or paid version (pro) and works on android and iOS. To top it off, the app is also available in a load of different languages!

What does the Maps With Me App do?

Maps With Me is a world map in an app, using OpenStreetMap (which is constantly being updated by users) to provide a detailed map of every part of the world – even the smallest islands. Being completely offline, you can access the world in fabulous detail without a signal – just like maps back in the good ‘ole days!

mapwithme_screenshots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional features

  • Zooms smoothly and quickly – no freezing or grey squares
  • Very detailed
  • Offline search for points of interest, fuel, toilets, restaurants etc…
  • Bookmark favourite places
  • GPS connectivity allows auto rotation, and positioning

 

Maps With Me App Reviews

Reviews are a mixed bag, some say that the maps are better than Google’s offline version, other say maps they accessed are incomplete for more remote areas. Developers say that the maps available are being constantly updated and therefore continually improved. Make sure you download maps beforehand though – some users didn’t seem to understand this going by the reviews!

mapwithme_google_play_review

 

mapwithme_itunes_review

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Extreme Sports Give Best Views of Hong Kong!

For an alternative view of Hong Kong, and get a view that looks over even the highest skyscraper in the city, take hike up, and an abseil down Lion’s Rock.

Located in central HK, it is a popular and accessible place for extreme sport lovers to go and get an adrenaline kick.

To give you a taste of what it is like, we have found a couple of cool videos that promise a close up view of the craggy rock face and the fabulous views of Hong Kong from way up high!

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Hong Kong Travel Advice

Hong Kong is a popular destination for travellers of all ages, from backpackers to visitors who want to enjoy the very best luxuries that it has to offer.  Before you travel, there are some important facts and advice you should know, which will help to smooth your path and ensure your trip is both safe and enjoyable.

Junk, Hong Kong by Dan Neveill

Junk, Hong Kong by Dan Neveill

Entry

Hong Kong retains its own immigration controls, despite being part of The People’s Republic of China.  When you are entering Hong Kong with a UK passport, from an international flight or cruise, there is no requirement to get a visa before you enter.  Visitors can stay for up to six months, as long as their passport is valid for this time.  If you choose to exit Hong Kong into mainland China, you need to arrange a visa for China before you arrive at the border.

Health

When planning a trip to Hong Kong, or indeed any other long haul destination, all travellers should consult their doctor at least 6 months prior to leaving, to ensure there is adequate time for all vaccinations to be carried out, should you not already have them.  Your doctor can recommend which injections are advisable for your particular trip, and provide prescriptions for any medications, which you may need to take with you.  Ensure you have a basic first aid kit in your bag, along with insect repellent and sun cream.  Depending on the time of year, temperatures in Hong Kong can exceed 30 degrees with high humidity, so ensure you stay hydrated, drinking plenty of bottled water.

Hong Kong by Mitch Altman

Hong Kong by Mitch Altman

Etiquette

As a fairly Westernised society, Hong Kong is easy for the traveler to adapt too, as there are no problems with causing major offence.  The residents of Hong Kong embrace a multicultural society and are accepting of Westerners.  Most women in Hong Kong, although keen on fashion, do tend to dress fairly modestly, so do keep this in mind and refrain from wearing anything too revealing.

Money

The currency of Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Dollar, there are ATM’s widely available, along with places to change money, but do check the amount of commission that will be charged before committing to these services.

Tipping is not essential, just rounding up the bill in restaurants, or giving an extra dollar or two to taxi drivers is enough to ensure you do not cause any offence.

Safety

For the first time traveler to Asia, Hong Kong is an excellent place to start, there is little violent crime, and as a generally stable society with many western influences, it is a generally safe place to travel, whether you are alone or in a group.  Petty theft can be an issue, as with any destination, so common sense should be exercised.  Do not wear expensive watches or jewellery, which could tempt thieves, and keep your cash and valuables secure.

Hong Kong Skyline by Sanfa Media

Hong Kong Skyline by Sanfa Media

For more advice, take a look at FCO travel advice for the latest, up to date information.

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