Walking in springtime in Mallorca

My guest post today from Nick of Villa Parade highlights that spring is one of the best times to visit the island of Mallorca, especially if you enjoy walking as a way to explore the beautiful scenery of this island and get away from the crowded tourist spots.

I find that spring can be the ideal time to visit the Med, as the weather is slightly cooler and there aren’t as many tourists as the high season, so it’s an excellent opportunity to explore. There are great range of activities in The Balearics to choose from. I’ve been on many of Mallorca’s walking trails, and with the Almond blossom in bloom throughout March, it’s a really beautiful time to see the island.

I also hear from many people who go to Mallorca in the spring because of its cycling routes, often used in Triathlon training, as well as from those who love wildlife and travel to spot the island’s famous Eleonora’s falcon.

One of my favourite walking routes is trekking up from Alaro to Castell d’Alaró. It takes about two hours and you need to follow signs from the PM210 to the peaceful valley of Orient. The walk takes you through olive groves climbing up to the plateau, with views of the Puig D’Alaro, a rocky outcrop with an old Moorish castle at the top. It’s worth the effort to see the beautiful views over the sea from the summit and to work up an appetite for the famous lamb dish in the Es Verger restaurant, renowned for its red wines, on the way back down.

There’s also a beautiful Mallorquin sunset walk from Roca Blanca, starting from PM-221 Formentor Road, to the peak of Fumat which shows the Formentor Peninsula, the North Eastern tip of Mallorca. at its best. A friend recommended this route to me it’s perfect if you’re looking for a bit of an adventure and you can picnic at the peak and visit the old lighthouse on the way down and have a dip in Cala Figuera. The walk is about 8km and finishes with a sunset view of Formentor’s most famous beach, Cala Formentor from Albercuitx Watchtower.

I’d love to from anyone who’s got any other tips on exploring Mallorca, especially walks that you’ve enjoyed on this beautiful island.

Many thanks for this guest post to Nick at Villa Parade who offer exclusive villas and holiday apartments throughout the Mediterranean, including Mallorca.

Photo credits: Almond Blossom by lightbrigade,  Castell d’Alaro by benjami,  Cala Figuera by Cayetano on flickr.

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Olympic Fever - tips for the Vancouver Olympics

If you’re feeling the excitement of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, you’ll enjoy my guest post today from Blake Abel, with tips on how to get maximum enjoyment from your visit, based on his experiences at the Beijing Olympics.

With the Vancouver Olympics fast approaching, it is time to get Olympic fever. As travelers we can relate to the thousands of people booking flights, finding room and board and carefully planning their vacation to beautiful Vancouver in Canada. I have been all over the world, to many countries, and very few match up to the city and people you see at the Olympic Games. I went with my family to the Olympics in Beijing in the summer in 2008 to support my sister who was competing in the synchronized swimming event. Although she didn’t win a medal, we had a wonderful time and I have some Olympic size tips for those visiting Vancouver for the Olympic games.

Plan before you go

Obviously right? One thing we learned when visiting Beijing is that there was not enough time in a day to see all the sites and scenes. Any Europe traveler knows that in order to visit all the hot tourist spots, you have to plan, plan, plan. Couple that with the Olympic games, the events, the nightlife, and the spontaneous redirects and you end up in chaos.

Find a balance between visiting on a whim and seeing the things you actually want to see. We barely made it to the Great Wall and we could have seen way more countryside - disappointing!

Find a translator

This doesn’t apply to the Vancouver games unless you struggle with your English, but I found myself ruffling though my Mandarin book just to find where the bathroom was. It is important to take books like mine, but more important to have someone you know, hire, or kidnap to help you in your travels to a foreign country. If we had a translator we could have cut our time in half, from bantering with waiters, cab drivers, and policemen. Yes, policemen.

Get travel insurance

Low cost travel insurance can help you immensely. Lost baggage or getting sick can be the worst thing in a foreign country. This is something my family and I regret immensely. We incurred costs that could have been reimbursed if we had purchased trip travel insurance. My brother got appendicitis in Beijing, was rushed to a hospital and thankfully we paid Yen instead of dollars. Unfortunately, it was in the thousands of dollars. Getting out of a cab, I hit a nice Chinese man, sending him off his bike. We paid again for the accident and were almost thrown in prison. It is really important when you are traveling (yes, even to Canada) that you stay protected, and be insured.

Explore

The Olympic Games causes a lot of excitement, it catches you eye, you stay in the village you watch the events you can get into, and you miss the rest of the city/country. One of the biggest advice I can give to visitors to Vancouver is “don’t stop at Vancouver and Whistler”. I have been to these cities and though they are great, they don’t grab the full culture you can get from Canada. Visit the outskirts, go to the woods, play in the snow, and embrace the country you traveled, one hundred, a thousand miles to visit. If you don’t, you will regret it.

Many thanks for this guest post to Blake who writes about travelling insurance and loves to travel in Europe and Asia. He is currently planning his next trip to Sri Lanka with a team of Americans, there to help set up a new orphanage. His passion is to help people with travel tips, staying on budget, and find low cost travel insurance.

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Ways to celebrate the British New Year

My sponsored post today will give you some great ideas for ways to spend New Years Eve in the UK, whether you’re a party animal, family, couple or have already blown your budget on Christmas festivities;

Feeling the pressure of organising a wild and crazy New Year somewhere far away from the humdrum of home? It may not involve getting on a plane somewhere exotic, but staying on home-turf does not have to be a boring alternative. Britain is bursting with colourful locations for every type of celebrator, whether you’re a party-goer, family, couple or simply on a budget. Come on, bring in 2010 Blighty-style:

New Years Eve for couples in Edinburgh

This wonderfully historic city is an excellent choice for those wanting all the buzz of New Year, but not necessarily the raucous behaviour that goes with it. Couples can welcome the second decade with style at the world famous Hogmanay Street Party which boasts a programme jam packed with live music, dance, light and one of the largest New Year displays in the world. There is also plenty to do in the daytime, including sightseeing and shopping or you could enjoy a spot of golf, one of Scotland’s favourite sports.

New Years eve for party animals in the North of England

Rather than opting for the more predictable choice of the capital, why not consider venturing up north to one of its many buzzing cities. Those looking for fun and frolics well into the early hours will love the likes of Manchester, with its endless New Year club nights such as Sankeys and Hed Kandi’s New Years Eve Special. Liverpool is another great option – their popular Garlands venue is even known as the Ibiza of the North West!

New Years Eve for families at Centerparcs in various UK locations

If you’re wanting a more family-friendly New Year, Centerparcs makes for a fantastic holiday destination without the hassle of having to get on a plane. Boasting a whole range of New Year activities, from firework displays to dedicated children’s celebrations, you can keep the kids occupied while you indulge in a glass or two of bubbly. There are also plenty of outdoor activities to keep you occupied, not forgetting log fires to cosy up to at the end of a chilly day.

New Years Eve for budgeters - stay in!

What better way to bring in the New Year than the comfort of your own home? Ok, so it might not be your wildest New Year to date, but if you’re strapped for cash it’s the best way to avoid the premium cab fares and expensive drinks so prevalent in the city-centre. Grab some food and fireworks of your own, invite round your mates (get them to bring along a bottle of bubbly), whack on some tunes and there you have it!

Travel Resources

For further reading, check out the Simon Seeks online travel guides to Edinburgh and other destinations.
For Edinburgh Golf Tours, try Yourgolftravel.com
Centerparks New Year Breaks

Other related articles

Planning for New Year at Centerparcs at Longleat
New Year in the Forest at Longleat Centerparcs

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Photo credits: Edinburgh photo by veggiesosage, Centerparcs photo by Heatheronhertravels

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