Archive for the ‘Insider tips’ Category

Newer Entries »

Things to do for free in Tokyo

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

By 101 Holidays newsdesk

sumo-wrestling-in-tokyonoodle-bar-in-tokyotemple-in-tokyo

Tokyo may regularly appear on the ‘most expensive cities in the world’ lists but one of the most common misconceptions is that Japan is an expensive country to visit.

Armed with the insider knowledge, experience and expertise of InsideJapan Tours, Japan can offer excellent value and many sights and attractions, both well-known and hidden gems, are absolutely free – including some in Tokyo itself.

Here are InsideJapan Tours’ insider tips for things to do in and around Tokyo without spending a single yen.

FREE: experience the hustle and bustle of the world’s biggest fish market, Tsukiji. The atmosphere is frantic and exhilarating. Arrive before 7am to see the tuna market and indulge in the freshest sushi breakfast (from £17).

FREE: visit a sumo stable for early morning training in Asakusa – get up close and personal with huge sumo wrestlers (7-10am). You need to book the visit in Japanese (which InsideJapan Tours will do for you) and to obey strict rules, but this is a fantastic – if slightly daunting – experience.

FREE: visit some of Tokyo’s most important temples such as Sensoji Temple in the old Asakusa district and Meji Jingu Shrine in Harajuku, one of Tokyo’s ‘cooler’ districts. It’s set in 175 acres of evergreen forest right in the city centre.

FREE: the staggering view over Tokyo and beyond to Mt Fuji from the 48th floor viewing galleries of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Buildings, Shinjuku.

FREE: discover techno heaven. Visit the huge electronic department stores in Akihabara, known as an electronics town; Shinjuku’s Yodobashi Camera store with floor upon floor of gizmos; the Sony showroom in Ginza for a glimpse of tomorrow’s gadgets; and Shibuya district with its neon and Bladerunner-esqe environment.

FREE: a two-hour sacred mountain hike through forest and past shrines to the top of Mt. Takao - Takao San sits in Hachijoji on the edge of Tokyo. Great panoramas of the metropolis await. Other free options include visits to Tokyo’s parks and gardens, museums and galleries.

Tokyo has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world but there is also an array of cheap eateries: try sushi (from 70p per plate), bento boxes (from £2.80), ramen noodles (from £3), 3-course lunches (from £7) or an Izakaya dinner with drink (from £12).

InsideJapan Tours offers a range of small group tours, self-guided adventures and tailor-made itineraries to suit all budgets and tastes and has an exclusive 101 Holidays offer.

101-exclusive-offer1

Tags: ,
Posted in Insider tips | Comments Off

Half price long-haul holidays with Hayes & Jarvis

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Kandaburi Resort and Spamedufushi-hotel-maldivesjumeirah-beach-hotel-dubai

By 101 Holidays newsdesk

Hayes & Jarvis has slashed more than £800 pp off the cost of selected long-haul holidays. It is also throwing in free upgrades from B&B to half-board.

Bookings must be made by Thursday March 4.

* Save £801 pp, departing May 4. Two weeks at the 4* Kandaburi Resort and Spa on Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, now costs £749 pp.

* Save £853 pp, departing May 15. One week at the 4* Medhufushi Island Resort in the Maldives now costs £899 pp  with seaplane transfers.

* Save £440 pp, departing June 28. Four nights at the 5* Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai now costs £599 pp.

    All holidays include a free upgrade to half-board, scheduled flights and transfers. More details from Hayes & Jarvis.

    Tags:
    Posted in Deals, Insider tips | Comments Off

    Travel writers’ recommended hotels

    Monday, September 28th, 2009

    ginny-light-150x150dave_yearbook_biggerimage2_biggerrichard_hammondlara-dunstonnick-redmaynevictoria_trottdavid-atkinson

    By Mark Hodson, editor of 101 Holidays

    Where do travel writers stay when they are paying their own hotel bills? Here at 101 Holidays we asked some of the top travel journalists and editors on Twitter to recommend their favourite hotels, B&Bs and guests – the places they would choose if they were picking up the tab.

    We’re not talking fancy 5-star palaces here. All our recommended hotels cost no more than $250 a night for a double room. That’s £150, or €160.

    And, to make it more interesting, we asked the writers to summarise their tips in no more than 140 characters – just like on Twitter.

    The resulting list of travel writer hotel tips includes many of the leading names in travel writing in the UK. And now we’re going global and inviting travel writers in the US, Australia and across the world to recommend the places they love best.

    If you want to receive regular hotel tips from our experts, subscribe to this blog. Or go to the 101 Holidays homepage for holiday ideas.

    Posted in Insider tips, News, Opinion | Comments Off

    Sorrento guide: our editor’s insider tips

    Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

    Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria 5 stars Sorrentosorrento guideBay of Naples itineraries: The islands of the Gulf of Naples | Bay of Naples Travel

    By David Wickers, editor of 101 Holidays

    Sorrento, which has been putting out the welcome mat to visiting Brits for decades, is an ideal resort for those who want to get more from the Med than a sunbed – yet who don’t want to rent a car.

    From its main harbour, confusingly called the Marina Piccola (the little marina), you can zip across to the islands of Capri or Ischia by fast ferry, with some services also going along the spectacular Amalfi coast to glittering Positano and Amalfi.

    If your stomach can cope with the twists, turns and hairpin bends of the Amalfi Drive, hacked out of the solid rock face, I thoroughly recommend one of the world’s most scenic bus rides, travelling to the medieval streets and casbah-like alleyways of the main town of Amalfi.

    Or head up into the lemon and olive groved hills to Ravello, rightly famous for a pair of beautiful gardens (Cimbrone and Rufolo).

    A short walk from Sorrento’s central piazza Tasso, you can board a local train service that will take you to the main entrance of Pompeii, to the funicular that travels up the lava slopes of Vesuvius and on into Naples.

    GETTING THERE

    From Naples airport there are bus services straight to Sorrento, or take a taxi and be sipping that first Campari and soda on your hotel terrace in less than an hour.

    WHERE TO STAY IN SORRENTO

    At the budget-testing but spectacular Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (top left), one of Europe’s most authentic grand hotels and host to an A list of royals, statesmen and celebrities ever since it first opened in 1834. It has 5 acres of gardens, an oasis of lemon trees with a large pool and a spa. The views from the hotel terrace, overlooking the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius looming on the far horizon, are to die for.

    WHERE TO EAT IN SORRENTO

    In the hills above town is the Michelin starred Don Alfonso in Sant Agata. In town, Il Buco is excellent for fish. For no nonsense Italian food served in a huge conservatory setting with a garden at the back, try O’Parrucchiano. For ice cream head for Gelateria Davide or Bougainvillea – my favourite is the vanilla and mango combo. A good place to sample local Campania wines is the Bollicine wine bar on Via dell’Accademia.

    BEST SHOPS

    Along the Corso Italia – which is pedestrianised in the evening – and the narrow, flagstoned streets of the old town, especially the traffic-free via San Cesareo.

    BEST BUYS

    “Tassia” inlaid wooden crafts, the local lemon liqueur, vacuum packed wedges of parmesan.

    Tags: , , , ,
    Posted in Insider tips | Comments Off

    Corfu travel guide, by Angela Papageorgiou

    Friday, May 29th, 2009

     

    corfu-2tavernaskaminaki

    By Angela Papageorgiou of CV Travel

    For such a small island, Corfu offers surprising diversity. You can live here for over 35 years – as I have done – and still discover places you never knew existed. These are some of my favourites.

    BEACHES

    Take the kids to the vast sandy beach of Halikouna, in the south-west. There are few facilities here so pack your own food, drinks and some portable shade and luxuriate in the peace and privacy.

    Still in the south-west, Paramonas is another ideal family beach, its sand scattered with boulders that hide intriguing rock pools. Kids can play for hours, within sight of their parents who can safely relax at the friendly beach tavernas.

    Corfu’s most exclusive villas are grouped along the spectacularly beautiful north-east coast; here you will find Kerasia (top left), beloved of yachtsmen, backed by eucalyptus trees, with one superb taverna. Tiny Kaminaki (top right) is impossibly pretty, while the glorious pebble bay of Avlaki has staggering views of Albania and is open to the prevailing afternoon winds – perfect for sailing and surfing.

    EATING OUT

    Nothing beats a leisurely meal with the water lapping barely inches from your feet. Tavernas from Kaminaki in the north-east to Boukari in the south-east offer this experience – savour grilled fresh sardines drenched in fresh lemon juice and served with a glorious salad of fruity tomatoes sprinkled with herbs and local olive oil. So simple and so good.

    Most visitors to Corfu seek good Greek food but Corfu has connections with Italy that run deep and not only influence home cooking but also result in a profusion of excellent and authentic Italian restaurants in and out of the town – my personal favourites are La Cucina in Corfu Town, Little Italy in Kassiopi.

    For an authentic Greek evening, steer clear of the organised tours and head for Yannis in the town’s suburb of Garitsa. You are unlikely to see any Greek dancing, but a gifted local musician provides pleasant (Greek) background music and welcomes sing-alongs if you know the words. Go into the kitchen to choose from the simmering pots of local delights such as tsigarelli (sautéed greens with chilli) and soffrito (veal stewed to melting tenderness with wine, parsley and lots of garlic).

    A favourite Sunday treat is a plate of tiny, flaky cheese pies with a drink of ouzo or tsipouro (local brandy) at one of the elegant Liston cafes in Corfu Town.

    SIGHTSEEING

    Visit at least one Corfiot village and travel back to a more leisurely world, where old houses cluster about a feudal mansion. Splendid Byzantine castles such as Angelocastro are now being restored, thanks to the recent award of UNESCO Heritage Site status to Corfu. Hire a boat, enjoy the views of the stunning north-east coast and pick a deserted cove for a spot of swimming and snorkelling.

    MUST DO

    Spend a day in Corfu Town – you can easily explore it all on foot, with frequent pit-stops at one of the many cafes. Atmosphere, history, great shopping, excellent food, open-air concerts, alleys hung with washing contrasting with grand municipal architecture, streets reverberating to the sound of the local brass bands. I would also recommend a visit to the British Cemetery, not least for the orchids that bloom there.

    For villas in Corfu, visit CV Travel.

    Tags:
    Posted in Insider tips | 1 Comment »

    My Corsica, by Claire Hall of directCorsica

    Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

    calvi_1valincobonifacio harbour

    By Claire Hall, Director of directCorsica

    Here’s a personal selection of some of my favourite places in Corsica.

    VALINCO GULF

    Having travelled to Corsica for many years, this is the area I have chosen to call home.  What I love are the beaches in this area; a whole series of little creeks and coves, so even in the summer you can often find a place all of your own.

    * Walk the Chemin de Fozzano then treat yourself to a soak in thermal baths at the Bains de Baracci; situated off the D257. Tel: 04 95 76 30 40.
    * Eat at the Auberge San Ghjuvani.  Try the veal with olives, snails or cannelloni stuffed with Brocciu (a creamy sheeps cheese with a distinctive flavour).
    * For a great beach, head to The north side of the bay between Vitricella and Porto Pollo. It’s south facing and gets the sun all day

    AJACCIO

    Every time I arrive in Ajaccio, I am reminded of why it is known as the Imperial City. Unlike most of the resorts on Corsica, Ajaccio is a true city with a year-round population and a vibrant atmosphere. As well as boat trips and beaches, there are art galleries and museums.

    * Visit the Maison Bonaparte where Napoleon was born.
    * Eat at the restaurant 20123 in rue Roi de Rome. Authentic Corsican food accompanied by traditional singing.
    * Walk the circuit from Pointe de la Parata at the edge of the Gulf of Ajaccio.

    CALVI

    Calvi is a fantastic place to holiday, particularly if you’ve never been to Corsica before – you could not hope for a more picturesque location, and everything is close at hand; the historic citadel, good restaurants, boutiques, a pretty port and the superb shallow sandy beach.  There is even a little train that links all the beaches along the coast.

    * Eat at U Minellu, on traverse de l’Église, a little side street near the church. Try the Sanglier (wild boar) and Pullenda (a variation of Pollenta). Tel: 04 95 65 05 52.
    * Visit the Cathedrale Saint-Jean Baptiste in the citadel, and the surrounding villages.
    * Relax at the sandy beach which is particularly shallow so ideal for young children.

    SAINT FLORENT

    Sometimes known as the Corsican Saint Tropez, St Florent is a bustling waterfront town with boats, bars, excellent fish restaurants and an almost permanent game of boules in the square. But stroll into the old town and you’ll discover a charming, ageless quartier of old houses, little shops and wine bars.

    * Buy muscat from the Lazzarini family. It’s the best I’ve tasted. Follow the route to the Citadel and you pass the shop on the left. Tel: 04 95 37 13 17.
    * Visit in early August when the Porto Latino music festival is on and the town comes alive to the sounds of salsa.
    * Eat at u Scontru restaurant in nearby Patrimonio.  Good value and high quality. Address: Lieu-Dit Campo d’Elge, Patrimonio. Tel: 04 95 37 29 73.

    BONIFACIO

    The most impressive feature about Bonifacio is its limestone cliffs. Wander through the cobbled streets of the Citadel and pick up charming souvenirs and local specialities.

    * Eat at Le Comptoire Bonifacien, 9 rue St. Baptiste (04 95 73 58 54)  – simple home cooked food and local produce such as charcuterie and cheeses.
    * Buy coral – the “oxblood” colour is the deepest red in the Mediterranean.
    * Walk the Circuit Pedestre des Falaises. Stunning views and a picturesque beach at the end.

    Tags:
    Posted in Insider tips, Opinion | Comments Off

    Jason Goodwin’s guide to Istanbul

    Monday, March 23rd, 2009

    Jason Goodwin Bellini CardIstanbulFour Seasons Istanbuljason goodwin

    Jason Goodwin is an author with an intimate knowledge and love of Istanbul. His internationally-acclaimed thriller series that began with The Janissary Tree is set in 19th-Century Istanbul. Jason is also the author of Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire. Here, he reveals his personal guide to Istanbul.

    Best restaurant

    Hamdi – unavoidable, touristy, delicious. Head upstairs past the dingy VIP rooms to the roof terrace, and revel in grilled meat and salads dressed with pomegranate molasses. The glass roof slides back and forth, according to the weather.  Always a possibility of seeing a Nobel laureate – or a party of visiting Swedes.
    Kalcin Sok 17, Tahmis Cad, Eminonu; 90 212 528 0390

    Best hotel

    The Four Seasons: one of the lovely things about Istanbul is that its prime historical area, Sultanahmet, is also buzzing with very decent cheap hotels. The Four Seasons rises to the challenge of being an expensive hotel in the right place. A stone’s throw from the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace, it is an oasis of luxury with uncannily intelligent staff. The rooms are big, the bar is nice and the food is superb.

    Best hammam

    Designed by the Ottoman Empire’s greatest architect, Sinan, in 1584, the Cemberlitas Hammam at the entrance to the Grand Bazaar is a renaissance temple to cleanliness and relaxation. Men and women steam in separate but identical marble halls. Follow the locals, and spend an afternoon getting awfully clean.

    Best shop

    You can spend as long as you like in the Grand Bazaar, eating, drinking or even having a bath or a pray between haggling, but you should not miss Egin Tekstil, where absorbent and luxurious hammam towels are soberly designed, pack small and soak up a lot of water. They’ve got great sheets and wraps too. Fixed price. Friendly people. Bliss.
    Yaglikçilar Cad. 1, Istanbul 0212/528-2618

    Best museum

    A thousand years ago, a Russian visitor admitted to Hagia Sophia, the great Byzantine church, reported that he didn’t know if he was on earth or in heaven. The church was already old. In the intervening millennium it has been a mosque, and is now a museum. Go early and avoid the queues: I guarantee it will knock your socks off.

    * Jason Goodwin’s most recent book is The Bellini Card. More information here.

    Visit Travel Intelligence for more about luxury hotels in Istanbul.

    Tags:
    Posted in Insider tips, Opinion | 1 Comment »

    Tunis opens up to low cost flights

    Friday, February 27th, 2009

    Tunis

    By David Wickers, 101 Holidays editor

    Cheap flights are coming to Tunis. After years of negotiations, Tunisia has joined the Open Skies agreement, allowing US, European and Arabic airlines to operate freely within its airspace. This paves the way for low-cost carriers to compete with Tunisair to the capital Tunis and other destinations.

    A new airport, Enfidha, is set to open on the coast near Tunis towards the end of this year, boosting access to one of the Med’s most underrated – and unvisited – cities.

    Here are my top 6 things to do when you get there:

    THE SOUK

    The souk in Tunis is a fascinating, historic maze of traders, segmented into different areas according to skills. Browse, bargain and buy, then take a glass of mint tea, flavoured with pine kernels, at the ancient Café M’Rabet, Arabic music oozing, you lounging on a straw mat.

    THE BARDO

    The Bardo is home to the world’s finest collection of Roman mosaics housed in a late 18th century palace. These exquisite, 2000-year-old snapshots of daily life are mainly focused on pleasure; drinking, playing dice, fishing, hunting, wrestling, dancing and eating – although one poor lad is shown from the waist down being swallowed by a fish.

    CRAFT EMPORIUM

    Take a late afternoon paseo along the leafy, paved central reservation of the city’s grand boulevard, Avenue Habib Bourguiba, an Arabian Ramblas complete with flower sellers. Les Maisons de l’Artisanat Tunisien (half way along, south side) is a 3-storey craft shop and the place to check on prices – which are fixed – before haggling in the souk.

    SIDI BOU SAID

    The prettiest village in Tunis, an Arabian Capri with white villas, pale blue doors, frilly iron window grills and flowers everywhere. It’s linked to the city centre by an efficient light railway, the TGM.

    CARTHAGE

    The pillagers have taken most of it (some of the stone was even shipped to Italy as hardcore) and the sprawl of suburbia has engulfed much of the rest, but Hannibal’s birthplace, in parts, still resonates. The most impressive sight is the Antonine Baths, all the more so when you realise that what you see today were merely the basement workings.

    MEAL TO REMEMBER

    My favourite restaurant in Tunis is Dar El Jeld, an opulent, exotically tiled, 18th-century house run by the original aristocratic owners. Try the brik, a deep fried, wafer-thin pastry shell filled with egg, finely minced lamb and parsley. The trick is to see if you can eat it without the yolk dribbling down your chin.

    Tags: ,
    Posted in Insider tips, News, Review | Comments Off

    Istanbul luxury hotels reviewed

    Friday, February 20th, 2009

    Istanbul luxury hotels

    By David Wickers, 101 Holidays editor

    Istanbul in summer is a hot and hectic place – but there’s a seriously cool way to enjoy its remarkable palaces, mosques and bazaars.

    I have just returned from a 4 day trip to Istanbul where I stayed at two luxury hotels, the Kempinski and the new Four Seasons (pictured above). Both are situated on the banks of the Bosphorous, the narrow straits that separate Europe from Asia.

    With outdoor pools, al fresco dining and views across to Asia on the opposite banks, they are more like seaside resorts than city hotels, yet just 10 minutes or so by taxi from the main sights. As places to return after a long morning’s sightseeing, they are unbeatable.

    And these are no ordinary five star retreats; each has been converted from a 19th century Ottoman Palace, built as imperial summer boltholes for the sultans.

    The newest is the Four Seasons. The soft and natural interiors are a long way from the glitz that your average Ottoman would have demanded, although the standards of service would please the most demanding of pashas. It opened a few months ago, as sister to the Four Seasons Sultanahmet, which was earlier converted from a prison in the old heart of town. The Four Seasons on the Bosphorous has 166 rooms – hardly boutique, but the feel is surprisingly intimate. The spa is remarkable.

    The Ciragan Palace is the older and larger hotel (313 rooms, mostly in a modern annexe), virtually next door. Restored and reopened by Kempinski in 1991 after a massive fire, the style is more traditional. It scores particularly highly on food, from what could well be the world’s most elaborate breakfast to the award winning Turga restaurant, which serves recipes derived from historic Ottoman recipes.

    Both hotels are bookable through
    Kirker Holidays.

    Tags:
    Posted in Insider tips, Review | Comments Off

    Newer Entries »