Backroads of Bohemia

See the backroads of Bohemia with this amazing self guided tour from Trek Holidays. From the tourist free heart of the Czech Republic, you will get to see what makes this country tick from a more indepth view. This tour starts at $1,825 per person for the land only portion, and departs quite regularly, so please speak to your local travel agent for more indepth information regarding booking at a specific time.

From the Trek Website:

“Explore the magnificent landscapes of the Czech Republic on foot on this incredible journey through Bohemia This superb self guided walk takes you into the diverse landscapes of Bohemia in the south of the Czech Republic where you’ll get off the beaten track and encounter historical villages, magical fairytale castles, magnificent medieval churches and monasteries as well as some of Europe’s most picturesque countryside. You will walk along the intricate network of pathways known as the Czech Greenways. This web of trails dates back over 100 years and connects walkers to the cultural heritage and natural beauty of this stunning country. As you crisscross colorful pastoral fields and vineyards and meander in and out of tiny villages you’ll discover places that for decades were hidden behind the Iron Curtain. This trip is perfect for recreational walkers looking to explore a unique part of Eastern Europe.”
Highlights of this tour are the Cesky Krumlov, the Charles Bridge in Prague, being able to explore the Lake District and Trebon’s medieval heart, while sampling Prague’s beers and wandering the Lednice.

Itinerary:

1: Arrive Breclav train station and transfer to hotel in Valtice.
2: Explore the Baroque Valtice chateau. Walk through fields, vineyards and forest to Lednice and explore the Gothic Revival Chateau of Lednice. Transfer to Mikulov (11km).
3: Walk along the Palava hills through the ruins of Divci hrady (Maiden's Castle). Continue on to the ruins of Sirotci hradek (Orphan castle) and climb Tabulova Hill. Descend through vineyards to castle town of Mikulov. Transfer to Vranov nad Dyji (10 km).
4: Tour the magnificient Baroque Chateau in Vranov. Explore the Podyji National Park and walk from the village of Cizov to Austrian village of Hardegg (14km).
5: Walk from the Landstejn castle to Nova Bystrice. Take the narrow-gauge railway to Jindrichuv Hradec (15km).
6: Visit the historic town and castle of Jindrichuv Hradec. Continue to Bohemia Lake District and visit medieval city of Trebon. Walk to Kojakovice then transfer to Cesky Krumlov (14km).
7: Transfer to Zlata Koruna and explore the monastery. Walk over Klet, the highest peak of the Blansky Forest. Hike back to Cesky Krumlov (16km).
8: Transfer by bus to Prague where trip ends.

For more details, check out the website.

Why use an agent?

Old-Style Travel Agents Still Alive and Kicking, Despite Numerous Predictions of Their Demise

With so many online travel agencies, it became common to hear how the offline travel agent had gone the way of the dinosaur, amidst bankruptcy and downsizing. So why are these obsolete travel agents still selling 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotel stays?

It’s because they’re sentient human beings, they’re offline and frequently offer the best deals.

According to Fast Company:

As travel technology leaders have observed, when it comes to disappointing travelers, software is rarely the limiting factor. The technology powering Expedia, Orbitz, etc, is pretty advanced e-commerce stuff. However, what’s driving them is a strategy that invests in sophisticated margin logic and multi-level algorithms to get you to see, click, and buy what they want you to.

But this is where the rubber meets the road, literally — when the next volcano explodes and your shoes stay glued to the ground, stuck in whatever far-flung limbo you happen to be, no computer is gonna proactively re-book you or find you a hotel so you can avoid curling up indefinitely on the terminal carpet hoping to find a way to get home.

So what do brick-and-mortar travel agents have over their online counterparts?

The human element. Despite our attraction to electronics and gadgetry, computers still can’t replace human interaction, especially a human with years of experience dealing with airlines, cruise lines and tour operators. Unlike computers, they know the human pitfalls and loopholes the customer will be experiencing.

Customer loyalty. Offline travel agents make their living by keeping their customers satisfied with their services. Their one-on-one interactions create a customized itinerary based on their preferences and needs. At the opposite end of the spectrum, online travel agencies offer the lowest prices and have no loyal customer base because what they offer is essentially no different than any other OTA.

Education for the customer. Part of the travel agent’s job is to educate the customer on their choices, some of which they might not have realized. While many customers would pass up a packaged tour or cruise, a travel agent may be able to show why both options can be attractive.

Value. For those spending more than $1,000 a person on a trip this summer, a travel agent may be a sensible investment. With more expensive travel, customers are less likely to begrudge travel agent their fees in return for a painless vacation. And if there are problems on the trip, travel agents can make sure restitution is made.

When I used one last month to book a last-minute trip to Singapore, the travel agent bested every online travel agency by $400 and was able to get me two seats together (a seeming impossibility online). The entire process took a half-hour of calling and maneuvering but was surprisingly painless. When finished, my technophile husband turned to me and said, “Why would anyone not use a travel agent?”

Apologies...

Well it seems like ages since I have filled this screen with travel bits and bites. As it always seems to happen, my life overran my life, and things got put on the back burner, this being one.

But a new chapter is about to begin, and new adventures about to be had. From the Galapagos, and Quito, to Vancouver and the Olympics, New York to Utah, there is no end to the changes that must occur for us to grow up, and move on.

This new year will bring new experiences, tastes, sounds and smells, but with the new, must the old go out, and I will be saying goodbye to some friends, family and places that have gotten me through the past three years of being here in Canada.

What does all this mean? Stay tuned to find out.

Til next time....

Book Announcement

GeminiTravels is proud to announce that we are currently putting together our first published book - "The Art of Traveling - How to get the best, without finding the worst".

In partnership with Wegotchaa Pty. Ltd., based out of Melbourne, Australia, our collection of tips and tricks discovered from our own experiences is set to be released in November 2010.

More information to follow shortly.

Summer in the Rockies.

I never thought I would miss the Calgary Summers, and to tell you the truth, I still don't.  What I do miss are the beautiful and majestic mountains that oversee us, bringing us their magnificence in a way that is completely understated and yet strangely powerful.

Escaping to them brings a sense of calm, and a sense of fulfillment, allowing oneself to enjoy the quiet peacefulness that being away from the city brings.  Mind you if you never stray far from the highway, and are only on a hair brained trip to the next big city centre, you will probably find that these are just large obstacles that would be so much nicer if they weren't in your way.  But take a step off the beaten path, and you will discover all that they offer.

From Canmore, in it's little town feel, sitting just over an hour from Calgary, and outside the National Park, with it's amazing pubs like the Rose and Crown, and quaint outdoor art galleries on the weekends, to Banff, with it's tourist pull and large 'Chinaman's Peak' overseeing it.  (This peak has been a PC nightmare, and has been re-named, but for those localites that live and breathe the air here, it will forever be known as just this.  Nothing else.)  Banff has been slightly overrun by the chains, but still maintains it's small town charm with places like the rock and gem store and the candy store which is a must do whenever in town.

Following the road further out, we get into the heart of the rockies.  From Jasper and Lake Louise, to further reaching places just over the border.  Far enough away to be a holiday, but close enough that you don't need all month to enjoy.  

I know that my travels will be taking me further into the rockies before the snow starts to fly, and brings me back to the city reality, but let's pray for an indian summer, and miles of open road in front of us.

Hotel Barcelona Princess - 5*

I have to say, my recent stay in Barcelona was made amazing by the incredible staff at the Hotel Barcelona Princess. They were attentive, and helpful through everything, including setting me up with internet in my room, free of charge, as well as borrowing me an adapter so that I could charge my camera to keep taking my hundreds of photos as I toured through the city.

They even helped pay for my taxi when I arrived at the hotel, walletless after being pick-pocketed on La Ramblas. They were friendly and remembered me, even with the large conference that was going on in the hotel, making me feel right at home - no matter how many people had looked at me strange as I attempted to speak Spanish!

The food in the hot breakfast buffet was incredible, although slightly different from what we are used to over here! Cold cuts, cold toast (it's the way they eat it over there), fresh fruit (rather than fried breakfast items) and a large selection of juices were only a few of the things that were there, ready to tempt the taste buds and keep me going for my long days wandering.

The rooms were incredible, with comfortable beds, black out blinds that made sleeping incredibly easy, and some of the nicest showers that I have found through all my European trips. It even made my shower at home look weak in comparison!

I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone looking for a hotel in a quieter part of Barcelona with excellent metro access, and a fairly affordable taxi ride home. A 5* in my books all the way.

(As per other reviews on TripAdvisor, the hotels are remarkably slow, but this is a small price to pay for the incredible service and amazing accomodation.)

Barcelona

Recently, I returned from a whirlwind holiday to Barcelona.  I don't know if I can ultimately call it a holiday, as I was there to attend a conference, but it was an amazing glimpse into a completely different world.  In North America, we are blessed to be able to speak English, no matter where we go, whether it is in Canada, America, or even Mexico.  

In Europe, you can be speaking Portuguese in Portugal, Spanish in Spain, and French in France.  And that's all in one day.  In Canada, we can travel for days, weeks or even months and still not get out of Canada.  In Europe or the United Kingdom, you can hop on a train and be in a different country in less than two hours.  

And that's not even mentioning the other differences we will encounter.  In Barcelona, the standard fare for breakfast was bacon, eggs and chips.  (That's fries for those of you not versed in the British word for fries.)  But don't think that obesity is an epidemic over there.  With Bicycles for rent by the hour, day or week, you don't need a car to get around this city.  And driving is not for the faint of heart, with one way streets with only inches to spare.  As they used to say in London, an inch in between vehicles and another one can sneak in.

While I was blessed to visit the other sights, which I will touch on, in another blog to come, the differences are what makes traveling such a blessing.  Learning what we admire about our own country, by experiencing others.  What better way to discover a new way of appreciating all that is outside our own doorsteps.

Travel Agents and Their Expertise.

I have a travel agent that I use.  It's not that I can't do everything myself on the internet, it's that I enjoy having someone else's opinion on things.  It's that I like having someone do some of my work for me.  Again, this isn't saying that I can't do everything myself.  It's that I have other things to do.  

But seeing as my travel agent works for me, planning my trip and doing research, whether it's to book a $400.00 Westjet flight from Vancouver to Montreal, or a $4,000 holiday to Sandals, they do the work.  And I realize that they have to get paid for this work.

Although we know this in the back of our minds (We all get paid for the work that we do as well), we still don't want to pay them for their hard work.  I was sitting in Flight Centre the other day waiting for my consultant, and wondering where I was going next, and of course, over hearing the conversations that were going on in the office.

There was one lady on the phone, trying to explain to a client that the flight was booked, and non refundable, and that unfortunately, prices can change - which they can.  If that client had booked her flight online one day, and then the prices went on sale the next day, she would have had to deal with it.  But because she had a travel agent, she called to complain and ruin her day.

Another consultant was sitting with a couple for about 30 minutes going over the benefits of going to one all inclusive destination over another.  Once the undecided couple had decided on their destination, the agent spent another 20 minutes going over resort options with the couple.  At the end of all that, they stood up, and stated that they could find better prices online.  

I couldn't believe it, and I still can not believe how well these agents deal with their clients antics.  So in writing this blog, I hope to point out that if you want the cheapest price, do it yourself, but be prepared to deal with every little thing that goes wrong yourself.  If you like having someone deal with all the little pain in the ass details that we usually screw up (I'm a master of booking wrong days it seems) then pay a little more, and be thankful for the exceptional service that a good travel agent will give you.

How Cheap Is Cheap Enough?

I know during this global recession, everyone is trying to get a good deal.  No one wants to spend too much, and no one wants to spend more than they have to.  My whole question is how much is too much?

After my last post, I received some emails regarding the swine flu (to which we are no longer supposed to be calling the swine flu because someone got offended?) and decided to investigate what this really is doing to our global travel economy.

While travel was down due to the recession to begin with, this really hasn't hit the industry yet.  The one key think that I was noticing was the fact that everyone seemed to think that they would get to go to Mexico for nothing now.  

Comments I heard were - "I bet we can get flights for $10 to Mexico now", "They must be giving trips away!"

But after speaking to a couple of the agents, they put these fallacies to rest, saying that only one airline was flying to Mexico, and that tickets were more expensive than ever, because some people still wanted to go on their holidays.  Supply is down, and strangely enough, demand is up.

The same holds true with Europe.  Airlines are struggling to fill their planes, Flight Centre is attempting to maintain their footing (with airline price guarantees for international flights) and still, people are waiting for prices to fall.  The first time I went to Australia, almost a decade ago, I took the milk run, as there were no direct flights, and paid over $1800.00.  Now, you can get a direct flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles for $1016.00.  If you will take one stop in New Zealand, you can have it for $950.  But still people are claiming that this is too much to pay.

My question is, how much is too much.  When will it be cheap enough?

The airlines have to make sure that they can pay for the fuel, the upkeep and their staff to get us safely from one destination to another.  After the recent scare that passengers had on a flight from Sydney to Vancouver, we would think that paying a little more to ensure our own safety would be better?

When the Going Gets Snowy...

It seems that March has gone in like a lamb and is going out like one hell of a lion here lately.  And while the weather outside might be just a little bit frightening, it's bringing back memories of a place that doesn't seem so far away when some Katchafire is playing on the radio (or cd player) and I'm staring at my one picture (that takes up a full wall I swear) that depicts nothing but the ocean out a window.

And while I stare at that, my thoughts wander to the little town of Mount Maunganui, a small resort and surfing town where the populations swells by about four times it's regular amount during the summer months - that kiwis tend to think are still too short!

The Mount towers over the peninsula of population like an overbearing parent and provides shade in the heat, and an amazing playground for children of all ages.  Climbing to the top gives those willing to bear the brunt of the climb with amazing 360 degree views, while for the less adventurous, there are the hot pools that are nestled at the base of the mount.  

These hot pools are full all year round, from the winter months and those that have spent the day kayaking down white water rivers in frigid glacial water, to those of us who just want to soak up the heat, while glimpsing the stars when the wind picks up slightly - blowing the fog away for a moment.

With a beach that stretches for kilometers, that can be perfect for sea kayaking, wind surfing, sailing, boating or even surfing, and a small town centre that boasts a multitude of cafes overlooking the beach (where dolphins can be seen on perfect days), this is one reincarnation of heaven.  

Long days spent with a coffee overlooking the beach, after a walk around the mount to break a sweat, with a soak in the hot pools later - what could be better?

Sometimes Travel Isn't Necessary

Please forgive my lack of posting the past couple days.  But as the title suggests, sometimes you don't have to stray very far from your own back yard to find yourself in an exotic land.

And that is exactly what happened in Calgary for the past two days.  A snowstorm blew in and was causing all sorts of commotion with close to 30cm of snow dropped in about 8 hours.  It's amazing how drivers who have been living in a snowy wintery wonderland for years on end, can still forget how to drive after the snow disappearing for all of five days.  

It was quite a scene, sitting on my balcony and watching the craziness slide by.  And slide it did with the amount of people on the road who were a little too heavy on their brakes, as well as their petrol pedals!  Cars going backwards, sliding sideways, and of course a fair number were stuck.  Stuck in snowbanks, stuck after spinning their tires, it was quite a sight to behold!

And on days like that, it's nice to know that I can step outside my condo and see a sight so foreign (though it shouldn't be) that all I can do is laugh.

God bless the last snowstorm of the year.  (And hopefully the last one that I will have to live through here in Canada!)

If you believe in love at first sight...

Do you ever stop looking?

This is the age old question when it comes to everything.  If you believe in love at first sight, you never stop looking.  You are always looking for the next best thing.  In very simple terms.

If you believe in something better, you never stop looking for what is better than what you have.  No place will ever be good enough, no house will ever be big enough.  You name it.

So I put the question to you.  Is anything ever good enough, when nothing is ever good enough?

Go Straight to Jail?

It has just come to my attention that hosteling International has some properties that are not for the faint hearted.  The one main one that I a talking about, is a hostel that exists in the central business district of Ottawa.  A few short blocks away from Parliament hill, there is an older building that has been converted from an old Jail to a hostel.  (Yes you heard me correctly!)  

And while it's no wonder that people say that this hostel is haunted, there are ghost and jail tours that leave at 7pm for those that want a little bit more proof!  

Check it out the next time you are in Ottawa.  Do not pass go, but go directly to jail!

How could I resist.

When Americans and other tourists can't know the difference between where Mount Rushmore is, and where the Grand Canyon is (and to know that they are two different places completely) I thought that it was time to put the age old debate to rest.  

What does Mount Rushmore look like from Canada?

We now know.

Time To Reflect

With the passing of another St. Patrick's Day, I found my self looking at different things than I had in the past.  

Whereas North American's celebrate St Patty's day as a day for drinking green beer and wearing green, in Ireland, this is not the case.

They do like a good reason to celebrate, and will have celebrations for the 6 days prior in Dublin, but they won't be seen wearing green any more than any other day.  And they do wear a lot of green on an every day basis!

Instead, they will wear a bunch of irish shamrocks (not four leaf clovers) on the breast of their shirts or jackets to symbolize the teachings of the holy trinity by St. Patrick.  And while he wasn't actually made a saint my the church, St Patrick is one of the most well known saints.

I bring this up due to the shift in my perception of culture and history.  On my last trip over, I discovered that I had more than just ancestry that had come from Ireland - but that I still had family ties.  Ties that I had never realized that I had until about three weeks ago.

And now I feel an unbelievable pull towards Ireland, it's cultures, history and traditions, as I feel like I have finally found something that gives me roots on this wonderful world.  Where will this mean that I go next?  I really have no idea.  Only time will tell.

This Airline Is So Cheap...

They are going to charge you a pound to use the toilet.  

That's right, you understood me correctly.  Which airline?

Ryan air!

This low cost airline is finding that they aren't making enough money selling fares for a pound plus tax, and they know that everyone hops onto a plane with at least a pound, so that is what they are going to charge you to use the loo.

Can companies quest to squeeze the last pound out of (literally) get any more desperate?

Why Some Things Change....

Henry Miller, a man that not many remember, once said that "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things."

This could be why some people thrive on traveling to return home.  With travels, come a new way of seeing things, and understanding things.  So that when you return home, one can never truly understand where one was before.

Family that you always fight with in my case, become a link to our past, in a place that you may never be.  Friends either come along for the ride and put up with your incessant chatter about your next trip - which in essence is like your next fix.  Travelers crave their next get away with about the same zest as a junkie craves his next hit.  (Though it is a hard addiction to have.)

My greatest downfall, was my inability to keep my itchy feet to myself.  I told everyone and anyone that I wanted to leave, and that I wanted to get out.  This made even my best friends shy around me, and keep their distance, as they knew that I would soon leave.  

And while when we return from our travels, we can not see things for what they were, so the people that we leave behind find it hard to find the people that we were before we left.

But still the traveler will travel.  And those afraid will not.

Reflections

I've been back in Canada for just over a week, and the itchy feet have begun already.  But instead of wanting to wander where ever they may take me, they are craving a certain destination.  Where, I'm not quite sure, but if it has a pile of Irish blokes with thick irish accents, I think I'll be as close as I could expect to be!

I was chatting to a girlfriend the other day, when it finally dawned on me.  I've been single, and frustratingly enough, I've not necessarily wanted to be.  Just recently, I took my own love life in my own hands and decided to chat to a sweet looking guy who I've been crushing on for quite some time.  (They say that you grow out of crushing, but if anything, it just gets worse when you know it's not supposed to happen ;) )

And after asking him out and getting a yes, I was subjected to the add on - I think I should tell you that I do have a girlfriend, but I'd love to go out for a coffee.  What the hell does a person say to that? 

But in a round about way, it brought home the fact that I don't attract the dear boring Canadian boys, because I don't want to be here.  I crave to be someplace else, and being with someone who finds this dreary humdrum, but beautiful country home would do nothing but drive me mad and fuel mad arguments about why we were still here.

So the feet are itching, and I feel it's time to move someplace that reminds me of home (not Canada unfortunately) so that maybe, just maybe I can join coupledom.  

Maybe.

But that's a big maybe...

Recent Journeys

I begin this tale, not at the beginning, nor at the end. Instead, I bring my experiences to you right in the middle of the most interesting part of the story. Will this make it easier to understand? I doubt that. Will it necessarily make sense? I think not. But that is not what this is about. In essence, this blog is about the obstacles that have been placed in my path, to help me develop into the person that I am slowly becoming.

I am slowly blossoming into an adult that understands what it is to be alive. What it means to take risks and fail, but always what this world demands of us to succeed. The road is not always easy, and it is not always what we expect or crave, but it is. And as long as that road exists, I will continue to walk it, in search of a place where I feel at home, a place that whispers sweet nothings in my ears every time I close my eyes, and gives me a brand new sight every time I open my eyes.

What is life, if not a series of beautiful moments that we enjoy, life and savor?

As Oscar Wilde once said, "memory is the diary that we all carry with us". When my journey is done, I dream of having a diary full of joy and happiness, and no wasted moments. Do you?