So you’re engaged congratulations! One of the most fun parts about getting married is planning that honeymoon trip of a lifetime. And if you haven’t even narrowed it down to a country, much less an island or a resort, don’t worry-many (if not most!) honeymoon couples are in the same boat.

Some couples start by leafing through travel or bridal magazines and looking for pictures that are appealing and romantic-you can do this, but you’re more likely to settle on the best-MARKETED destination rather than the best destination for your wants, needs, and style.

The following are questions you should ask yourself-it’ll help you figure out what your options are, and help you ask better questions of your travel agent which will help you plan that perfect honeymoon.

When are you going?
Every destination has its high and low seasons-and this is typically a combination of weather and the times of the year that their tourists typically take vacations. Some destinations, such as Hawaii, have very little variance in their weather year-round; others, like the Caribbean have a definite hurricane season. Yet it’s important to know that the Caribbean is a very big place-and different parts have different hurricane seasons, and some parts of the western Caribbean really aren’t hurricane prone at all. Other destinations–such as Central America and Southeast Asia-have rainy or monsoon seasons. You really need to know the specific destination in order to have a feel for whether or not their “green” season is too “green” (rainy!) for you.

Also, ask yourself if you’re willing to delay the start of your honeymoon a couple of weeks or months. Summer months are very popular for weddings, as it tends to be easier for family and friends to get to the wedding; plus, if you’re having an outdoor wedding, the odds of good weather are more in your favor. However, this also tends to be the expensive (and sometimes more crowded) season for many honeymoon destinations. Giving yourself a month off after the wedding before leaving on your honeymoon can give you time to relax and wind down from the wedding, write your thank-you notes, and take advantage of the lower prices of what’s known as the “shoulder season” (between high and low season).

Cost
The big question! First, some statistics: the average U.S. couple spends about $3700 for their honeymoon package…and this doesn’t included expenditures once they’re at their destination. When considering a resort that’s NOT all-inclusive, take some time to research the area and find out what meals cost, what a snorkel trip costs, what taxis cost, etc. Tourist bureau sites are a good place to start.

Costs of excursions and meals can easily add up to much more than your airfare and hotel, and you need to be realistic and prepared for this. Consider staying at multiple hotels on your honeymoon-perhaps one or two nights at someplace really nice to start, then a more moderate property with perhaps less of a view for the remainder.

Language
This is less of a problem than you might think. Unless you’re backpacking around some exotic country, you’re going to find people in restaurants, hotels, and the activity vendors all speak English. One bit of advice: try to learn a few words and phrases in the local language, as you’ll find you’re treated differently if you begin conversations with “hello” in their language, and show you’re willing to make the effort to get along in their country.

Food!
How adventurous of an eater are you? How about your fianc ? Do you like to try the local food, try many different restaurants? Often resorts will have very good American and European menus, but for authentic local cuisine you’ll have to venture outside the resort.

All-inclusives and cruises often make fabulous food very affordable; if you’re not at an all-inclusive resort, the on-property restaurants are often pretty pricey compared to outside restaurants, and tend to be less authentic with respect to local/native cuisine. If your chosen resort is in or near a reasonably large town or tourist area, you may have lots of choice for dinner; if you’re secluded and isolated, it’s possible that you have no choice but to dine at the resort (and pay their prices, if it’s not included!).

In areas like Fiji and Tahiti, you’ll often find that while the resort isn’t officially all-inclusive, they do have a “meal plan” which covers food and sometimes drinks. Sometimes these plans cover just breakfast and dinner, which leaves you the option of trying the local cuisine and eating relatively inexpensively for lunch.

People, people, people
There are a number of important considerations here. First off, who else is going to be at your resort? Are most of the guests at the resort in your age group? Are they young and adventurous, or older and mostly interested in golf? Does the resort market to families-are you going to find a ton of kids splashing around in the pool when you’re trying to have a romantic, relaxing time? Is the bar going to be lively, with your kind of music? Are you going to feel right at home, or a bit out of place?

Next, let’s talk about density: do you prefer to be in the middle of the action, with lots of other happy honeymooners all around, or quieter and more secluded? Think about whether you want to be in a hotel with 400 rooms, or a resort with 40 private villas…the experience will be very different. And do you want to be waited on hand and foot, or left alone to explore by yourselves? Do you want to shop, maybe pick up souvenirs or local style clothes, or maybe some artwork? Maybe you want a mix: in Hawaii, popular combinations would include a few nights in the heart of Waikiki combined with a few nights on the North Shore…on Maui, perhaps a split between the Lahaina/Kaanapali area and the secluded Hana coast.

Finally, how much do you want to learn about the locals, their language, food, and culture? Generally, at the all-inclusive resorts, you’ll find yourselves with other tourists, separated from the local style. If you want to immerse yourselves in the local environment, perhaps consider a smaller hotel, farther from the main tourist areas.

The destinations
Here’s a quick look at some of the more popular destinations, and what they’re known for.

Fiji- great scuba and snorkeling, very friendly people, mostly villa-style beach bungalow accommodations in widely-separated resorts. Moderately expensive to very expensive. About 9 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Tahiti - great scuba and snorkeling, famous for overwater bungalows and phenomenal views. Resorts tend to be fairly far apart; very secluded and private. Expensive to very expensive; food, drinks, and activities can be very expensive as well. About 8 hours flying time from Los Angeles.

Hawaii - beautiful weather all year round, close to mainland U.S., amazing array of watersports and adventure activities. Not as much of a cultural transition for mainland Americans as many other destinations. Most hotels have 200-400 rooms; hotel density along beaches can be high. Excellent choice for a destination wedding, as prices are very reasonable for high quality and service. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Caribbean - known for prevalence of all-inclusive resorts, especially in Jamaica. Huge range of cultures, styles, food, music. Great watersports and scenery, and not too long in the air from major U.S. cities. Cruises are a very popular way to explore multiple islands and countries in the Caribbean at a modest cost. Inexpensive to very expensive.

Mexico - Cancun/Cozumel nearly fully recovered from the past summer’s hurricanes, and much rebuilding has resulted in many upgraded resorts. High density of resorts on beaches in places like Cancun and Cabo. Great diving, watersports; some areas close to Mayan ruins. Recently, all-inclusive resorts have become common, and there are some terrific bargains to be had, especially at the moderate to more expensive resorts. A new trend we’re seeing is combining the traditional beach vacation with a few days inland at one of Mexico’s colonial cities, exploring the history and culture of old Mexico. Easy access from the U.S. Inexpensive to moderately expensive.

Europe - history, architecture, and great food and wine are big draws here. Airfare is less than you might expect, often sub-$500 per person roundtrip. Less of a beach resort destination, although areas of Italy, France, and Greece on the Mediterranean can provide the sun & surf element. Castles in Ireland and self-drive B&B vacations throughout the UK are popular, as are villa stays in France and Italy. In Greece, the Cyclades islands are very popular: Santorini with its submerged volcano, black sandy beach, and breathtaking sunsets…Mykonos with its blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and beaches and Naxos, the largest island with golden sandy beaches, clear turquoise waters, and the medieval capital of Hora. Honeymooners often combine stays on these islands with a visit to Athens. Many cruise options are available, allowing easy exploration of a number of Mediterranean ports in one vacation. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

Costa Rica & Belize - becoming very popular as eco-tourism destinations, these countries offer terrific beach resorts, watersports, diving and snorkeling, combined with jungle exploration and eco-adventures. Treetop resorts becoming popular here as well; and like Mexico, there are a number of Mayan ruins accessible in Belize. Belize also is famous for its barrier reef, and the scuba diving hotspot known as The Blue Hole. Relatively short flight from mainland U.S., combined with great value for the dollar at many resorts makes these two countries very hot for honeymooners.

Australia & New Zealand - enormous variety of things to do for the adventurous types, from Ayers Rock to the Great Barrier reef, Sydney and its renowned Opera House, Surfers Paradise. New Zealand has everything from geysers in Rotorua to jet-boating; hiking and skiing amongst tremendous scenery, and of course the famous Maori hospitality. We often suggest combining a trip to either of these countries with a stopover in Fiji or Tahiti as well. Long flight times (15 hours+ from Los Angeles) mean you’ll probably want to stay 2 weeks at the very least. Moderately expensive to expensive.

Southeast Asia- combines terrific beach resorts with extraordinary culture and historical sites to explore. A relatively long flight from the U.S. (up to 20 hours depending on routing), but a tremendous value once you’re there. Thailand, Bali, China, Vietnam and Cambodia are all becoming very popular. Very inexpensive without the airfare; inexpensive to moderate with airfare.

The Seychelles, Maldives, and Mauritius are all fabulous honeymoon destinations, although because of the flying time from the U.S. (around 30 hours), they’re more commonly visited by Europeans. Truly spectacular diving and scenery, great food and culture, and very friendly people. Hotels are much more spread out than Hawaii or Mexico-more like Fiji or Tahiti. Private island resorts are common, as in Fiji and Tahiti. Seychelles and Mauritius trips are commonly combined with a week or so in Africa on safari. Expensive to very expensive, even without the airfare (roughly $1500 to $2000 per person roundtrip from the U.S.).

Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile are becoming more popular, and offer a great opportunity to experience culture, wilderness and traditional beach resorts all in one vacation. The Amazon is a huge draw, of course, but also the culture and experiences to be had in Rio and Buenos Aires make for a very memorable and exotic honeymoon. The Inca city of Machu Picchu is certainly one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world, perched in the Andes at over 9,000 feet in elevantion. Moderately expensive to very expensive.

About the Author:

Michael and Terry started TheBigDay (http://www.thebigday.com) back in 2001 in Terry’s garage. Michael’s role is a combination of technology and business development. He’s an avid traveler, enjoys photography, racing motorcycles, and working on interesting and unusual cars.

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In Part 3 of this series, Oliver Phillips of PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) looks at an alternative way to move money abroad.

If you already live in France, or intend to finance your property purchase from equity in your UK home, chances are you’ll want to move some money abroad.

Transfering money from the UK to France requires someone to handle the transfer on your behalf and usually your bank will be happy to assist you but beware, though convenient and familiar, your transfer might cost you more than it needs to.

Instead you may be better contacting a currency house, a company which exists specifically for the purpose of moving money; both large single amounts for your property purchase, and lower regular amounts such as a monthly pension.

Transferring money via a currency house is often cheaper than using your bank for two reasons; firstly their charges may be lower than your banks, but more importantly the exchange rate you receive is likely to be more attactive than the rate offered by your bank which is typically a tourist exchange rate and signifcantly lower than the rate you see published in the financial press.

Better yet, both spot and forward methods are available. The former converts your money at the prevailing exchange rate when the money transfer is made and is the method most of us use unknowingly, whereas the forward method allows you to fix the exchange rate up to 24 months is advance of the transfer, useful if you believe the exchange rate will fall by the time you actually make your transfer.

This article only provides a general appreciation of the topic and it is not advice. Guidance should be sought from a specialist who is qualified to advise in your specific circumstances.

About the Author

Oliver Phillips works for PFS France (http://www.propertyforsalefrance.co.uk/) a business that helps French property owners advertise and sell, and potential buyers find, some of the finest and best cared for traditional French properties available.

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In December 2005 Terradaily published a report from Agence France-Presse on a scheme to reduce oil dependence in Portugal by installing a wave electricity generating farm.

Portugal is turning to wind, wave and solar power to reduce its huge dependence on oil imports and meet its international commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The world’s first commercial wave power plant is set to begin operating off Portugal’s northern coast in 2006.

The wave power plant will be set up by a Portuguese consortium in the Atlantic about five kilometres (three miles) from the town of Povoa de Varzim and it will generate 2.25 megawatts of power from 2006, enough to supply 1,500 homes.

The project will use three wave power generators supplied by Scottish firm Ocean Power Delivery for eight million euros (9.4 million US dollars).

The generators look like giant floating sausages and they rock with waves, pumping water to hydraulic motors that drive generators to produce electricity.

If the initial phase is successful, the consortium said it will order 30 more Pelamis P-750 generators by the end of 2006.

The government wants waves to provide 50 megawatts of power by 2010 but experts believe the country has the potential to produce far more wave energy because it has deep waters just off its shores that generate strong swells .

Unfortunately the experiment was not a success and the ’sausages’ were quietly removed for modification. Local sources say that the swell was too great for the machines.

This trial has left yellow buoys, some with flashing lights, in the sea where the experiment took place, These buoys mark the end of the cables to the shore and an ODAS wave measuring buoy two miles to the north.

At the time of writing there is no area that is restricted to navigation.

The position colour and light characteristics are:

 ODAS buoy    38,37 N  9,23 W    Yellow    Fl(5) Y 20s  Cable end    71,27 N  8,48 W    Yellow    Not lit Cable end    71,27 N  8,49 W    Yellow    Fl Y 2.5s Cable end    71,27 N  8,50 W    Yellow    Fl Y 2.5s 

About The Author

David Lumby is the Honorary Local Representative of the Cruising Association for the North of Portugal. He is a retired British Chartered Accountant living in Viana do Castelo. He has cruised extensively on the coast of Portugal in the past. He is a director of Manor Houses Lda which finds holiday accommodation in Portugal for English speaking guests. His sailing pages on the Portuguese coast begin on http://www.manorhouses.com/ports/

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Chartering a boat is a good way to sail without the expense of owning your own boat. If you can’t spend more than a few weeks a year sailing and few people can the the option of chartering is definitely worth serious consideration. It also provides the opportunity to sail different boats in varied and far off locations. Choose between sail and power. Get the right boat in terms of size dependent on the number of people chartering and the depth of your pocket.

Apart from the choice of the type of boat, size and cost there are various types of charter packages available and this article takes a closer look at what is on offer.

Flotilla Sailing - A great way to get started for those with an bit of an independent streak. And the social scene is can be something else. The flotilla usually comprises of 8/10 boats, one of which, referred to as the lead boat, carries a skipper, hostess and an engineer. The skipper will be responsible for ensuring that the guests on the other boats in the flotilla have the navigational skills and boat handling/seamanship skills required providing help and advice where required. The hostess will organise the social events - meals out in the evening, lunchtime barbecues and the famous last night party. The engineer is there to repair the boats while the holiday makers will do their best to break things as they learn to sail. My initial impression of this type of charter was that the whole thing would be a bit regimented with all the boats in the flotilla following the lead boat like ducklings do a duck. This is far from what happens in practice. The day begins with the skipper of the lead boat carrying out a briefing giving the destination you will be expected to make for during the day and any navigational considerations along the way and then you’re pretty much on your own. The next time you see the lead boat will be at that evenings destination where the crew will be waiting to assist you with berthing. A great way to sail in company with the reassurance that experienced help is never more than a VHF call away.

Skippered Charter - Perhaps you’re a bit short of experience or don’t want the responsibility of managing the boat or the navigation. As the name suggests you charter the boat and the skipper comes with it. You’re expected to make up the numbers of the crew but all the responsibility is with the skipper. In practice the level of involvement of the charterers is down to them. Most skippers are flexible enough to allow the customers as much involvement as they wish.

Crewed Charter - You get the boat, the skipper and crew and a good cook. This tends to be an expensive way to charter, you have to pay the wages of the crew and because you are carrying more people the boat is bigger and costs more to charter. But if your idea of sailing is sitting in the sun drinking a gin and tonic watching others do the work then this is for you. Most skippers won’t stop you getting involved with the sailing of the boat if you want to but if you’re wanting a more hands on experience consider an alternative form of charter.

Bareboat Charter - The ultimate freedom. All you get is the boat and a briefing when you collect the boat at the start of the charter. This briefing should include safety on board, a look at the way the various systems work on the boat and some local knowledge of the proposed cruising area. Then it’s down to you. Before taking a bareboat charter you should have some basics of navigation and seamanship, the level of this knowledge in some part determined by the proposed cruising area. You will, for example, need more experience for a two week charter in the Channel Islands, just of the coast of France in the English channel, with its 5 metre tides and numerous rocks and shoals lying just beneath the surface than is required for an Ionian charter in Greece. No tides, very little to bump into in terms of hidden rocks and most of the sailing between islands is by line of site.

More information about yacht charter can be found at the Yacht Charter Directory.

About The Author

Ken Jones runs the two websites http://www.spain-flights-hotels-property-golf.com, a Spanish travel guide and http://www.sail-the-net.com, a sailing site.

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This event of international character, which will take place from the 6th of October until de 6th of November, attracts the attendants of all kinds of spectators thanks to the great variety of spectacles that are assembled. This year, at the musical level the emphasis is put upon the incandescent Joan Manuel Serrat, who is in charge of initiating a cycle which is being shaped with perfection over the years. The attention is also directed towards the company of Kevin Johansen, to Elza Soares, Racalmuto and to The Capella Reial of Catalonia with the interpretation of “Miguel of Cervantes and the Music of the Quijote”.

Scenic variety

More than 30 companies of theatre, dance and music, so much national as foreign, will participate in this edition of 2005. Many of them will dedicate their participation to the theatre, the great protagonist if we keep in mind the high number of shows that will take place in the Spanish capital, in the framework of the Festival of Autumn.

“Eraritjaritjaka of the Swiss company Th atre Vidy-Lausanne, the Serbian “Karmen of Goran Bregovic with a happy end” of the same Goran Bregovic, “Macbeth” of the Lithuanian company Meno Fortas, The Argentinean “Estupidez” of the famous V zquez, the English “The Winter’s Tale” created by the hands of The Watermill Theatre or the French work “La Rose et la Hache” of Od on-T athre of l Europe certify the multicultural character of this annual event.

As national representatives, the emphasis is on “The Pianist”, theatrical show based on the homonymous novel of Manuel V zquez Montalb n, recommended for its originality on the stage: the plot develops in a parallel to a piano concert.

Dance

As would not be possible in another season of these characteristics, the dance will be portrayed by spectacles of the importance of the “Prestidigitaccions” of the Catalonian Company Alta Realitat, at the same time the Spanish Malucos Danza will carry out the “Ciquitraque” to the scene.

France will delight us with “Brutalis”, of the company Karine Ponties- Dame de Pic and with “On Danfe” of the Montalvo-Hervieu. From Belgium arrives “FOI” of Les ballets C. of the B.

Where and how

The better theatres and artistic precincts of Madrid are prepared with perfection. The Real Upper School of Dramatic Art, the Theatre Fernando de Rojas, the Theatre of the Operetta, the Spanish Theatre, the Alb niz, or the Theatre of la Abad a are some of the chosen enclaves to house one of the most magical encounters of the year.
About the Author

None

Yet another interesting article about what’s going on in Nice, the French Riviera and France in general. We hope you found it useful.

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Skiing Destinations Worldwide

Skiing has become one of the most popular vacation themes and with ski resorts located worldwide, it’s not difficult to take up the sport. A ski trip is one of the ideal winter getaways. Skiing trips were once too expensive but now times have changed and it is possible for groups of friends and families to get great value deals to some of the most desired destinations all over the world.

Colorado is one of the most popular ski destinations in the United States. It has got lot of ski facilities including several located within the Aspen Mountains. And undoubtedly region is exceptionally beautiful itself. Utah is a state also known for skiing. It is home to the Rocky Mountain and many people round the globe gather there to enjoy skiing. Utah is a favourite destination for the families.

Across the globe, regions and towns that have excellent hill walking and mountaineering in the summer and spring seasons are transformed to snowy hills of undulating whiteness in the winter. Visitors flock to the mountain sides for good snow coverage and ski runs. The towns of Whistler, Canada; Chamonix, France; Hutt, New Zealand and Munich, Germany are just some of the thousands of destinations that have outstanding skiing conditions awaiting the enthusiastic traveller. California, New York, Vermont and Montana are also some of the most popular skiing destinations. Nothing can compare to the exciting trip down the slopes at a favourite winter hideaway.

Europe has got some stunning skiing spots like Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. Switzerland is one of the best and the most admired skiing destinations in Europe. The Schilthorn Peak and St. Moritz are the two most famous skiing destination of Switzerland.

Canada and USA is renowned for its outstanding world-class ski resorts and breathtaking slopes that thrill the hearts of winter sport lovers. As an effect of which hundreds of people flocks here every year to experience skiing, a physically demanding activity that brings with it the risks associated with outdoor sport and the dangers of being in an alpine region.

Skiing trips gives you 100% satisfaction and makes visualise your dream into reality. It helps you in experiencing the grandeur and magnificence of skiing and travelling in a unified way. All of this and more are there for you if you care to venture on a skiing holiday.

For details on the Travel Holidays visit www.worldwiseholidays.co.uk.

About The Author

Maria Thomas was the pen name for Roberta Worrick who lived for 20 years in African countries, having first arrived as a Peach Corps volunteer in 1971. from Her stories appeared in Redbook, Story and The New Yorker. She was a Wallace E. Stegner Fellow and received an Overseas Press Club’s commendation for reportage in Harper’s.

sally@worldwiseholidays.co.uk

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Please come back and visit this site regularly for the latest tourist news from Hotels in Nice France and Rencontres par ville

Current estimates indicate that about 100,000 British fans are expected to make the journey and travel to Germany at some point during the tournament. At the turn of the year, cheap airline tickets were selling out fast for the final stages, and predictions from BA for flights from London to Berlin (http://www.britishairways.com/findaflight/europe/gb/flights/from/london-to-berlin.html ) around the final on 9 July were estimated to rise to 650 return, however, the addition of extra flights has meant that prices have been kept to a much more reasonable level.

Travel writer Simon Calder told the BBC that hotel costs could double in some cases, although short break hotel directory (http://www.superbreak.com ) Superbreak has indicated that most hotels in the vicinity of each of the England matches are not surprisingly completely booked out by now. Many supporters have chosen to base themselves outside of the main hub of activity in Germany, by staying on the borders of neighbouring countries such as Luxembourg or France, where accommodation is still available and have not been hit by the spiraling costs within Germany.

Another common cause of complaint for UK supporters is the lack of tickets allocated for the England fans for their World Cup matches, which has been stirring up much consternation. With 8% of the tickets allocated to UK fans for each group game, making around 4,000-5,000 seats per match, while the sponsorship companies between them own about one in six of all the tickets for the entire tournament, approximately 500,000 seats. The chances therefore of getting a ticket are virtually non-existent, unless you manage to strike it lucky with a last-gasp chance through one of the sponsors’ promotions like Barclaycard (http://www.barclaycard.co.uk ).

This will not stop many of the fans however, who will still make the pilgrimage despite not having accommodation or match tickets, simply for the atmosphere.
For those who decide not to travel to Germany there is still the opportunity to join in with the World Cup fever atmosphere as the UK pub, club and off-license trade is expecting to heavily reap the rewards of the competition through vastly increased custom especially by pubs across the country, with additional revenues of over 280million if England can make it through to the semi-final or higher.

About the Author:

Submitted by: Michael Hanna About Michael Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland: Contact details: E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com Phone: 0131 561 2251 Michael’s Website: Taxi Belfast Airport Taxi Belfast

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Many of the countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Germany, California and those in the Mediterranean region are all known for producing wine. Yet the finest wines in the present day scenario are believed to come from France. France has lately emerged as most popular wine producing country offering too many varieties of wines available throughout the world.

Recreational trips are developing many new themes for travel each day and the tour operators are coming up with new idea’s to attract prospective customers. Due to the ever-growing popularity of wine in our community many wine tasting trips are organized either individually or by groups. Also many tour operators organize trips to wine producing regions where wine lovers can have great pleasurable moments. Trips can be to any local wine rearing area or somewhere far off where one can reach comfortably only through air. Some places are very famous for making finest wines and people are usually attracted to the popular spots that produce wines so that they can taste the best wines at their original place. Also many high profile companies that produce wine send invitations to their valued customers as a business promotion plan, so that the customers can have a taste of the recently launched flavors of wine. Whatever be the reason a wine tasting trip is always an exhilarating experience for a wine explorer.

Wine tasting trips can last for a day, a week or more than that depending on the available time and the choice of destination. Many tour organizers also combine wine trips with an exotic location for lodging and a lavish food style coupled along the trip so that the travelers have an experience of lifetime. Among all possible destinations France has emerged as the mast preferred spot for wine enthusiasts. It gives a feeling like experiencing heaven on earth when one is on any personalized wine exploration tour.

Wine exploration can be great for wine novices and wine experts as it makes them familiar with the most popular wines and also the best selected ones. Anyone serving wine for tasting needs to take care of every small details of the surrounding to create a perfect ambience for the occasion . The glasses used should be tapering towards the sides and the color of class should always be transparent. One must remember that visitors are here to taste wine and not to drink it hence the quantity poured must be very small around one-third the size of glass. Enthusiasts of wine always immensely cherish wine exploration trips.

About the author:

Mansi gupta writes about wine travel

Yet another interesting article about what’s going on in Nice, the French Riviera and France in general. We hope you found it useful.

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If you plan to visit Nice in the future, we hope you will consider staying at our small family-run hotel. It’s in a quiet residential area, but not too far from the Autoroute and center of the bustling metropolis of Nice and the Promenade des Anglais. We have our own speciality restaurant and all modern comforts including Wi-Fi.

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Reflected sunlight from the water outside dances on the chestnut ceiling of my cabin the first morning I awaken aboard the luxury barge La Belle poque. I get up to look out the open porthole window and am greeted with a friendly squawk. A large white swan approaches expectantly, followed by several mallard ducks. We are eye level with each other. Having no bread to offer, I quickly close the window.

After a shower in the tiled bathroom and rub-down with a thick nautical blue towel, I head upstairs. On an antique oak sideboard in the main salon hostesses Fanny and Barbara have laid out a breakfast of granolas, yogurt, and fresh fruit. While I was still gazing at the ceiling of my cabin, Captain Lee had been in the village of Auxerre buying fresh baguettes, croissants and pain chocolate.

La Belle poque is one of several luxury canal barges operated in France by European Waterways. Once a working canal barge, it has been redesigned with both elegance and passenger comfort in mind. The salon is hunter green, rose and mahogany, with comfortable banquettes and vases of fresh flowers. There are a sun-deck, Jacuzzi spa, sauna, fitness studio, and bicycles for guests to ride along the canal paths.

It’s a fine fall day in France, still summer in the afternoons, with nights that offer a crisp reminder of winter to come. This state-of-the-art hotel barge carries just twelve passengers, with six crew members to take care of every possible passenger need.

Nick, our guide, had picked us up in Paris the previous day in front of the Hotel Amp re. A two-hour journey by minivan through rolling French countryside had brought us to the medieval town of Auxerre, where La Belle poque and her crew awaited. We enjoyed a champagne welcome accompanied by freshly-baked popovers. After meeting the crew and getting settled into our cabins, we explored the cobblestone streets and fashionable shops of Auxerre.

At the junction of the Canal du Nivernais and the River Yonne, Auxerre was a pivotal town on the ancient north-south road through France. It was a big market town for lumber and wine as well as an important spiritual center. Surrounded by timber-framed buildings are a 15th century tower with a large decorative 17th century clock.

Our first dinner aboard La Belle poque introduced the talents of chef Guy. “Scallops Mating with Snails”, followed by a charolet filet with red pepper pur e and potatoes gratin e au dauphin. Dessert was shortbread with raspberry coulis. A white St. Veran and a red Aloce Coton (wines of the Burgundy area) accompanied the meal, and we discovered there is no limit to the number of bottles we may consume.

Monday morning, about “tenish”, La Belle poque glides gently away from the Auxerre waterfront. Before the week is ended, we will travel through 31 locks to the town of Clamecy. Barge speed is limited to 3 mph on the canals and 10 mph on the rivers.

Soon we reach our first cluse or lock. La Belle poque slides into a chamber to rest while a set of gates at each end closes so that the water level can be raised or lowered. Potted flowers and a picturesque stone house indicate where the clusier (lock keeper) lives. At Captain Lee’s call he comes out to manage the gates. Timing is important, however. If we arrive while the clusier is at lunch we will just have to wait. The French take their dejeuner very seriously.

In France there are over 2,700 miles of inland waterways including a 750-mile network of connecting canals. Many locks are hundreds of years old. Most canals were built in the 19th century, but some are two centuries older. Because canal barges were originally horse drawn, poplar trees were planted along the way to protect the horses from the sun.

The Canal du Nivernais passes through western Burgundy, crossing the Yonne Valley and sometimes merging with the Yonne River itself. It was originally built to transport wood from the Morvan forests to meet the firewood demands of Paris. This wood trade was the main source of income for this area until the 1920s. The canal saw the last of its merchant traffic in the 1970s.

As we glide by a rolling patchwork of green hills and picturesque vineyards, lunch is served: quails in cr me fra che sauce, tuna pasta salad, caprisi salad, fruits, a white Savignon St-Bris and a red Chitry. There are two kinds of cheese with exotic names Delice de Bourgogne and St. Mair de Tourraine.

After lunch there is another lock, and while the barge rests we pile into European Waterways’ minivan. Nick takes us to St-Bris le Vineux, a little wine village above a network of medieval passages. At the stone farmhouse (complete with satellite TV dish) of Monsieur Bersan, we descend into an ancient cave for a wine-tasting. The cool air is strongly scented with damp, wet wood and thriving mold. Everywhere there is a flat surface, wine bottles lay in horizontal slumber.

“This is the only place in Burgundy

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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com Leave your email next to the logo for FREE e travel newsletter.

Yet another interesting article about what’s going on in Nice, the French Riviera and France in general. We hope you found it useful.

We consider all articles published on this site to be republished with the permission of their author whose copyright we acknowledge. All articles are reproduced in the form originally provided. If you are the author of this article and consider there to be material errors, please advise us.

If you plan to visit Nice in the future, we hope you will consider staying at our small family-run hotel. It’s in a quiet residential area, but not too far from the Autoroute and center of the bustling metropolis of Nice and the Promenade des Anglais. We have our own speciality restaurant and all modern comforts including Wi-Fi.

Please come back and visit this site regularly for the latest tourist news from Hotels in Nice France and Rencontres par ville

Far up and secluded in the Green Mountains of Vermont near the town of West Townshend rests an Inn of stunning natural beauty blending European sophistication with New England warmth and hospitality.

The history of the Windham Hill Inn reads like an all too familiar story, wherein once an actively operating New England dairy farm, has now been transformed into a romantic getaway that without doubt would appeal to luxury loving couples.

Spread over one hundred and sixty acres, the property’s original farm house dates back to 1826 when the Lawrence family of Boston built it as a summer home. Eventually, in 1850, the family had decided to become homesteaders, and up until 1959 the property remained in the hands of the same family, when the last of the clan, Miss Kate, passed away.

The farm was converted into an Inn in 1962, and current innkeepers, Joe and Marina Coneeny are the fifth owners, having purchased this glorious hideaway in 2002.

The Coneenys first met while majoring in Russian at Middlebury College, Vermont, and they vowed after graduation that one day they would return to live in Vermont.

Marina was born in Paris and lived there until the age of 17, when she came to the USA to attend college.

Joe is from the Boston area and for twenty- two years was involved in finance, which entailed a great deal of travel, leaving him little time to enjoy his family and home.

Marina worked in the specialty food and catering business, and in middle market banking in the USA and England.

Joe and Marina, together with their two children, Meagan and Ted, as well as three yellow labs, two cats, and two horses, all contribute in their own way to the down-home ambience. We were also greeted by recent additions to the family- two peacocks that strutted around the property as if they owned it!

When I asked this charming couple if they had any difficulty transferring their skills from their previous professions to that of inn-keepers, their immediate response was that they had always dealt with people. As Joe put it, we were and still are in the business of pleasing people-something we are very used to. I also learned that in addition to their great people skills, Marina is a gifted interior decorator, while Joe is a very knowledgeable sommelier.

In addition, prior to making Vermont their permanent residence, the couple renovated and improved several antique houses, acquiring expertise that proved to be invaluable to the running of their own inn.

There are places where it is a joy to spend one night on your way to somewhere else and others are ends in themselves. This inn falls into the latter category, as you experience a charming and relaxing atmosphere in a country setting away from the traffic and the well-trodden sidewalks of the city.

All who have visited Windham Hill Inn proclaim, as evidenced by some of the comments written in its guest book, that it is one of the most enchanting and romantic places to stay and dine-we certainly would concur.

The inn comprises twenty- one truly superior rooms and suites located within two historic buildings. The room we stayed in, “Forget-Me-Not,” is enveloped on three sides by windows, one of which had a seat tempting us to take the weight off our feet awhile and enjoy the rural scenery and animal life. This proved to be an ideal setting for Lily to take out her sketch pad and do what she does best-drawing and painting. Although, I must admit, when we moved outdoors, she had difficulty choosing which of the many outdoor locations to set up her easel, as the possibilities are endless.

The Forget-Me-Not even has a small private balcony permitting us to go and come as we please, without entering the main lobby of the inn.

The king size bed, as well as the sheets, cushions and bedspread were of the highest quality, and together with the invigorating mountain air, you couldn’t help but sleep soundly-something we had been looking forward to.

We did manage to have a peek at some of the other rooms, and we commented to Marina that her European and Parisian pedigree seemed to be quite in evidence, particularly the exquisite wallpaper, that deliciously blends in with the antique and country furnishings.

Sixteen of the twenty -one rooms have fireplaces or Vermont Casting stoves four have Jacuzzis and three have soaking tubs.

All rooms are very spacious featuring Queen or King size- beds, private baths, central air conditioning, phones, CD players, turn-down service, and upscale bath amenities.

There is even a Music Room with a Steinway grand piano, and adjacent to the dinning room is a cozy pub.

The dining room is open seven days a week and the menu changes eight times a year. Chef, Jennifer Cayer, is given wide latitude in trying out novel dishes incorporating tasty and varied ingredients. As pointed out, and as we discovered, when we had the opportunity to indulge in Kathleen’s dishes, the emphasis is on super fresh with a great deal of creativity and imagination.

For wine lovers, the inn boasts of having a list of over six thousand bottles comprising about four hundred different choices. You will be able to enjoy an extensive selection from California, France, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, and Italy. It is little wonder that it has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

After a scrumptious breakfast, that is included in the price of your room, guests can choose from a long list of activities beginning with perhaps a walk or hike around the many trails that meander around the property. In winter these trails provide for some excellent cross country skiing. If you are into tennis, there is the inn’s clay court, and after working up a sweat, you can jump into the adjacent heated swimming pool, where you can relax and read a good book or meet other guests.

Nearby activities include shopping and antiquing, golf, fishing, theater, biking, sleighing, Alpine skiing, snowmobiling, museums, art gallery hopping, country fairs, art & craft shows, and horseback riding. In other words, there is plenty to do.

A short stay at the Windham Hill Inn was all we needed to recognize why it was selected as a Top Ten Romantic Inn by Bedandbreakfast.com in 2003 and as one of twelve Romantic Hideaways by the Discerning Traveler, 2002. It is also a member of the prestigious, Select Registry, wherein inns are chosen by their fellow innkeepers. These inns must undergo a rigorous review and inspection conducted by some of North America’s leading hospitality professionals that ensure that the highest standards of excellence are adhered. Windham Hill Inn definitely passes the test with flying colors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Norm Goldman is the Editor of the travel site Sketchandtravel.com and together with his artist wife, Lily, the couple meld words with art focusing on romantic destinations.

Norm is also the Editor of the Book Review and Author Interviewing site- Bookpleasures.com that comprises over 25 international prestigious reviewers.

To read more of Norm’s travel articles and to view Lily’s water colors click on Sketchandtravel.com. You can read Norm’s book reviews and author interviews at Bookpleasures.com.

Yet another interesting article about what’s going on in Nice, the French Riviera and France in general. We hope you found it useful.

We consider all articles published on this site to be republished with the permission of their author whose copyright we acknowledge. All articles are reproduced in the form originally provided. If you are the author of this article and consider there to be material errors, please advise us.

If you plan to visit Nice in the future, we hope you will consider staying at our small family-run hotel. It’s in a quiet residential area, but not too far from the Autoroute and center of the bustling metropolis of Nice and the Promenade des Anglais. We have our own speciality restaurant and all modern comforts including Wi-Fi.

Please come back and visit this site regularly for the latest tourist news from Hotels in Nice France and Rencontres par ville