Knysna
Knysna is one of the prettiest places you will visit in South Africa. Located approximately five hours drive from Cape Town, Knysna is on the Garden Route, about half way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The closest airport is George.
Knysna is set on a beautiful lagoon with the sea on one side and the mountains on the other.
We are regular travellers to Knysna and stay with family in Belvidere, just outside of Knysna, but there are plenty of wonderful places to stay in and around Knysna. We would recommend bed & breakfast accommodation and there are lots of good quality places to choose from. Leisure Island is a pretty place to stay. On the Heads you will have spectacular views over Knysna or on Thesen Island or the Waterfront you are quite close to town. If you want to stay at Belvidere have a look at Belvidere Manor and cottages.
Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy
Visiting Venice is like visiting a living museum. Its beautiful setting, its abundance of artworks and architecture and its maze of streets and canals make it a unique experience.
We arrived by train into Santa Lucia station and were able to change money, buy a snack and get a map from the Tourist Information Office – all within the station building. Going out the main doors and down the steps took us to a large pedestrian area – to the beginning of the Grand Canal – the main thoroughfare of Venice.
From the station we took a Vaporetto (water bus) towards the San Zaccaria stop, just near St Marks Square. This trip down the Grand Canal was a wonderful introduction to Venice. (more…)
Golden Pass Line from Montreux to Lucerne, Switzerland
A Train Journey on the Golden Pass Line: Montreux to Lucerne
After a short stay in Paris we wanted to make our way across to Venice via Switzerland and enjoy the scenery along the way.
Our ‘accommodation guru’ came up with a great plan. We would travel by train from Paris to Montreux (on Lake Geneva) then take the Golden Pass Line through to Lucerne where we would spend two nights and one day, before continuing by train onto Venice.
The Golden Pass Line is a spectacular rail trip with views of Swiss villages, rivers, lakes, forests and mountains. Because of the changes in rail gauge along the route, the Golden Pass Line involves taking three different trains.
Lucerne for One Day
In January 2010 we spent two nights and one day in Lucerne in mid-winter on our way between Paris and Venice.
New York City in Winter
New York City
Winter is a good time to visit New York City. It is the quietest season when it is less crowded, there are no queues, hotel prices are reduced and the city looks beautiful when it snows.
We spent a week in New York City in January 2010. If travelling at that time of year, if possible we recommend arriving before 10 January so that you can see the Christmas lights throughout the city (on this trip we missed them but had loved seeing them on a previous visit).
Banff and Lake Louise, Canada
Banff
On a trip to the US in December 2009/January 2010 we decided to include a visit to Canada. First stop was one day in Vancouver and then four days in the Banff and Lake Louise area.
Some of our party were keen to ski so Banff was a good place to make our base. After a couple of weeks on the road, we were looking forward to five nights in the one place, the chance to rent self-catering accommodation and enjoy some home-cooked meals.