Travelguru.tv Blog

travelguru.tv plays with the big boys!

2011-11-30T16:54:00.005Z

This week I was privileged to attend the British Travel Press Awards 2011 along with 260 or so movers and shakers from the travel industry. I was delighted to be there as a second time nominee for the the category of Broadcast Travel Programme of the Year. A slightly mixed category admittedly made up of TV, radio and online programme makers (me!). I get how the lines are becoming increasingly blurred between TV and online video but to me, radio is a different beast altogether. Nonetheless I was very proud to see the travelguru.tv logo up alongside the 'big boys' from BBC World News, ITV, the Travel Channel, LBC and BBC Radio 4. Simon Calder's LBC Travel Show ran away with the gong but a great night was had by all.

To see the travelguru.tv nominated programme, Unique Macau with David Wickers click here

Cadiz region cookery course

2011-05-10T12:41:00.014+01:00

I'm so excited about my latest travel discoveries I just have to share...

Last week I was away for a few days holiday in Spain with some girlfriends
Discovery no1: female only holidays are a joy!

We stayed in an apartment in Conil de la Frontera on the southern coast not far from Cadiz. Its a working town, not at all touristy but with the bonus of a giant sweep of beach which is blessed with a constant ocean breeze. Sevillanas flock here in summer to escape the oppressive heat of the city. The beach is delightful and I am a self confessed sun worshipper but...
Discovery no2: a couple of days sun 'fix' is enough for me, the urge to explore is greater than the need to tan.

Which led us to...
Discovery no3: Annie B's Spanish Kitchen and...
Discovery no4: to understand a region's food adds tenfold to the enjoyment of your holiday and a cookery course is a fine way to appreciate that!

In this part of Spain fish, salt and sherry are the three most important ingredients but, for the uninitiated, are not necessarily the easiest to embrace. Knowing where to shop, what to buy, where to dine out and what to order can be challenging, especially if you don't speak Spanish. A day with Annie will put you on track...

Our culinary experience began with shopping in Conil's central market for the pick of the day's catch. A thorough examination of each of the displays was conducted and some serious quizzing of the stall holders before Annie made our final selection - 1kg of glinting fresh anchovies, almost transluscent white prawns, two plump shiny sea bass and a large local flat fish the like of which you would not find in your local Sainsburys.

Then it was off to to her charming house in nearby Vejer de la Frontera. Annie's story is intriguing - a Scot by birth, with a background in catering in the UK, she stumbled upon Vejer back in 2000 and fell in love not only with the food and the climate, but the region, the lifestyle and eventually a house which, she confesses, she simply could not resist. Its not hard to see why - atop a steep hill in this impossibly pretty white town and centred around a courtyard with a small pool, the view to the coast from the roof terrace alone is enough to make you wish you lived there too!

After much cooing and photo taking, we settled down in the open kitchen to begin lunch prep. Annie, along with her able assistant Pepe, was in charge, but allocated tasks to us all as she worked to get us all involved and familiar with the processes. First there was a cake to be made and popped into the oven, various sauces to be prepared and fish to be gutted. It didn't take long though for the (first of several bottles of) sherry to be opened and the Fino/Manzanilla preference debate to hot up. I'm not usually a sherry fan but, under Annie's expert guidance, I have become a convert. Freshly fried boquerones and chilled Manzanilla - can there be finer match?

This is no gourmet cookery school - its very relaxed, no culinary experience is required and the actual cooking processes can easily be mastered by all. The key is Annie's skill in sourcing the best and freshest ingredients, preparing menus in simple but authentic local style and then pairing them with carefully chosen sherry and wines. The menu theme can vary but ours consisted of:

Appetisers: (devoured while prepping)
Anchovies 2 ways - pickled and fried
White prawns with an Asian dipping sauce (not local obviously but truly delicous)
Followed by: (served in the shady courtyard at the poolside table)
Ajo blanco - a velvety smooth almond and garlic cold soup
Fish baked in a salt crust and served with a salsa verde, new potatoes and roast asparagus
Orange and almond cake served with creme fraiche and local strawberries

All of the above washed down with a delightful selection of wines including a wonderful Alborino from the Galicia region and a fruity white Rueda.

It was hard to drag ourselves away as the day drew to a close around 5pm - there's something so convivial about preparing food as a group and then sitting down to share it. From just this one day I learnt so much about the region, its food and wines and it left me longing to find out more...

Annie runs a whole range of courses from one day (from 60 Euros pp) through to 5 night gourmet discovery tours of the region. For details visit her website

Think you know Miami?

2011-02-28T16:10:00.008Z

My last visit to Miami was over 20 years ago - passing through, as many do, en route to join one of the cruise ships that set sail for the Caribbean every day from the gigantic cruise terminal. At that time, Miami didn't have a whole lot to shout about but, having just returned from a 5 day trip I realise now just how much it has changed. Indeed the pace of change is sofast that, even if you've been there in the past few years, there is always something new to discover...

In the 80s the TV show Miami Vice did the city a massive favour, got it back on the tourist map and inspired the restoration of the fabulous Art Deco District on South Beach. In the 90s it was the Latino club culture that drew in the crowds. The last decade saw the art and design scene flourish, regenerating entire districts and attracting worldwide interest. Broad trends whichhave combined to add exciting extra dimensions to the city's natural appeal of a spectacular beachside location and sunny Florida weather. Each has stimulated a ripple effect of growth and creativity; new hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, attractions and festivals. All of which give Florida lovers plenty of reasons to revisit.

The latest public space is the impressive New World Center, designed by Frank Gehry and home to the New World Symphony, an orchestra come post grad programme for young musicians. Contemporary, glass fronted and sleek from the outside, inside the building houses a 756 seat concert hall complete with five vast sail-like shapes that float against the upper walls to aid acoustics and double as screens for commissioned video art.

Out front there is a lovely park where those not fortunate enough to have tickets can picnic and listen as concerts are piped and projected onto an exterior wall. What a wonderful way to spend a warm evening!

Elsewhere in the city, other walls have been put to creative use. In the Wynwood Arts District, Wynwood Walls has become an epicentre for cutting edge street art. Set in a large grassy parkland, using primed walls of industrial buildings as their canvas, a collaboration of global artists have created a stunning and diverse collection of contemporary art. The project was conceived as part of the 2009 Art Basel and has now evolved into a permanent and inspiring outdoor space complete with its own uber cool restaurant, the Wynwood Kitchen and Bar.

New restaurant openings are practically a weekly event in Miami - the quality and variety of cuisines and venues are a big part of the draw. During our stay we tried out just a few but, from first hand experience, I can certainly recommend Sustain (comfort food with emphasis on fresh locally sourced produce) and Chef Allens (one of the city's longest established and best loved venues specialising in seafood). If you are watching your weight, try the organic and super healthy menu at the Canyon Ranch Resort & Spa where a delicious 3 course meal can weigh in at less than 600 calories (calorie counts helpfully noted against each dish on the menu). My 'don't miss' though would be to book yourself an outside table at SushiSamba on Lincoln Road. There you will enjoy not only outstanding, creative cuisine but one of the best 'people watching' spots in town.

More on Miami coming soon...

Barbados Food & Wine Festival

2010-09-03T09:29:00.003+01:00

If you've been looking for an excuse for a holiday to Barbados, here's a good one: time your visit to coincide with the first Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival to be held on the island from 19-22 November.

Generally recognised as the culinary capital of the Caribbean and the only Caribbean island to be Zagat rated, its kind of surprising that they haven't done this before however, this is now intended as an annual event and promises to be a good one.

British chef Fergus Henderson will be joining US chefs Tom Colicchio, Marvus Samuelsson, Ming Tsai and Time Love for this four day epicurean festival. Along with wine experts and mixologists they will take part in cookery demonstrations and tastings around the island for locals and visitors alike. Event venues include Sandy Lane, The Cliff restaurant, George Washington House, Lion Castle Estate, St Nicholas Abbey and the Fairmont Royal Pavilion.

Not part of the Festival sadly but my top tip for a fabulous meal in Barbados is Sunday plantation lunch at Fisherpond Great House (early booking essential). Click here to whet your appetite by watching our Barbados Island Guide video featuring this and some of the other Festival venues.

travelguru.tv in the Startups 100 list

2010-08-25T16:01:00.004+01:00

Celebration at travelguru.tv towers today with news of our 5th award. We are thrilled to have made it to No 39 in the Startups 100 list "the ultimate countdown of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative new businesses".

travelguru.tv other awards to date include:

Smarta 100 listed company 2010
Premis G! 2009 Best Audio Visual Communication
Travelmole Web Awards 2008 - Best Use of Video
Finalist BT Essence of the Entrepreneur 2008

We're going to have to get ourselves a bigger shelf!

Practically half price Cephalonia

2010-08-24T17:31:00.008+01:00

Bargain of the week this week is the chance for a bit of late summer sun on the gorgeous island of Cephalonia. Stay in style at The Alymrya, a family run hotel in a fabulous setting with views out across cypress-clad forest to the sea and Ithaca. The large terrace with freshwater swimming pool is the place to catch the rays and get stuck into a good book. Or, if you can muster up the energy, you can take a stroll down to the sandy beach or wander around Fiscardo harbour. This is the place to be come the evening with plenty of restaurants to choose from including Tassia's, run by the same family as The Almyra.

Special offer price is just £500pp(a saving of £450pp) for departures on 25 September, including flights
from Heathrow or Manchester, transfers and bed and breakfast accommodation.
Visit the Members Area for more details

travelguru Bargain of the Week

2010-08-17T13:15:00.005+01:00

Bargains are the order of the day right now so, on top of usual great value offers promoted alongside our videos, we are trawling the market to find travelguru customers the best deals out there. This will be a regular weekly feature in our Members Area so bookmark the page and check back frequently to make sure you don't miss out...

First up:
BOOK A 6 NIGHT NORTHERN LIGHTS VOYAGE AND GET 5 NIGHTS FREE
and, what's more... no single supplements apply!

For many, the chance to witness the spectacular Aurora Borealis is a lifetime's dream. Take advantage of this offer, fulfill that dream and... get a bargain to boot! Sailing from the UNESCO-listed harbour of Bergen in the south to Kirkenes in the north and back again, the ships sail night and day and call in at a total of 34 ports.

The offer is available on selected sailings between October and December 2010 and must be booked by September 30th. Prices start from £941 per person. For more details and booking enquiries, visit our Members Area.

Hope for Haiti

2010-02-05T09:38:00.004Z

I spent the day at the Destinations Travel Show at Earls Court in London yesterday. Numbers I would say were slightly down on previous years (hardly surprising given the state of the economy) but the passion, enthusiasm and sheer variety of travel opportunities on offer were as inspiring as ever.

And it was good to see the Haiti stand in the Caribbean section attracting lots of interest. I had a long chat with Jean-Marc Flambert who had organised the stand. Drawing on goodwill and the generosity of the exhibition organisers and partners who gave both space and support for free, he was doing a fine job of presenting a positive vision of the future for the earthquake ravaged country. Jean-Marc has extended family in Port-au-Prince so is better placed than most to understand the trauma its citizens are currently experiencing.

The truth is though, Haiti has been suffering terrible poverty and deprivation for many years and, desperate though the current situation is, its also a potential turning point. Money is now pouring in and, while much of it will be spent on the immediate crisis the hope is that eventually funding can also be directed into long term redevelopment and, in particular, tourism initiatives.

The country's future depends on attracting tourists and there's plenty on offer with Haiti's rich diversity of mountains and unspoiled coastline. It will be along and difficult road, the politics are complex and the immediate crisis is far from over but at least there is a glimmer of hope that eventually tourism may help Haiti triumph over tragedy.

The Destinations Show is on until Sunday 07 February at London Earls Court http://www.destinationsshow.com/

A hat trick of awards for travelguru.tv

2010-01-07T11:00:00.003Z

The travelguru.tv team were thrilled to end 2009 by picking up their 3rd award since launch. I had the pleasure of travelling to Girona in the Costa Brava just before Christmas to collect the Premis G! 2009 award for Best Tourism Communication - audio visual category. Presented by the Costa Brava Tourism Board, the award was in recognition of 2 video reports, presented by travelguru David Wickers on Walking and Cycling in Catalonia and A Guide to Girona Province

The awards ceremony took place in the splendid surroundings of a restored Victorian Theatre in the small town of Olot. Following a press conference with local media, the awards ceremony took place complete with red carpet, live music, champagne and canapes. The event is the highlight of the Costa Brava Tourism Board calendar and it was a real honour to be there and accept the award.

Very good service - guaranteed

2010-01-07T10:52:00.002Z

Thanks to our friends at www.verygoodservice.com for their continued support. Featuring a collection of award winning companies across all sectors, VGS is a great site to check out if you are looking for inspiration coupled with reassurance. As they succintly put it: 'We find the best...so you don't have to!

Dahabiyya Cruises

2009-11-12T17:15:00.008Z

Guest blog from travelguru, John Carter

I have just spent a week on "Amber", one of the small dahabiyyas which cruises the Nile, taking a maximum of a dozen passengers to tombs and temples between Aswan and Luxor. It was a delightful experience, in the main, and served, among other things, to convince me that small is, indeed, beautiful when it comes to such excursions. A fleet of 350-plus larger boats is also on that river, running in convoy from one site to another. Far too many vessels carrying far too many passengers (even in tough economic times), so that the aforementioned sites quickly become crowded.
"Amber" runs to a schedule that avoids those other ships, and though it may be a cliche, cruising the way it used to be is really the only way to go. Its leisured approach gives you time to appreciate what you are seeing, to listen to what the experienced guide has to tell you, and relax in excellent company. The service is impeccable, the food very good and the fact that all drinks are included in the price is a welcome bonus. The Egyptian wine is more than passable, though my preference at lunch, especially on returning from a shore excursion, was for the Egyptian beer. A spacious cabin with a comfortable bed, a ferociously efficient shower and very good air conditioning completed the picture.

Any criticism? One gripe I do have, though it is not aimed at "Amber" or her crew. It is that, when one goes ashore, one is pestered by peddlers and stallholders, all selling the same limited range of goods - scarves and guidebooks, jewellery and trinkets. If one doesn't want to buy, their pestering can get out of hand and even verge on the menacing. A lot of people dismiss this as being "..what you have to expect in Egypt..." but it detracts from one's enjoyment of the holiday and demeans the country and its people. I wish the authorities would do something about it.
That apart, I thoroughly recommend the dahabiyya - the Nile's transport of delight.

Watch John's video report on the Dahabiyya experience here

Applying for a non-immigrant US Visa

2009-08-19T15:38:00.003+01:00

Ever had the feeling those US folk would really rather not have foreigners come visit? If you've stood in line at Immigration at a US entry point or, worse still, had to apply for a visa in advance you could be forgiven for thinking that was the case. However, some of us are still not deterred and now that our friends at the Massachusetts Travel and Tourism Office have asked us to come and film their spectacular state, the hoop jumping could no longer be avoided. I thought I would share my experience...

Filming/reporting/journalism requires an I Visa and so it was that I ended up in a queue outside the US Embassy at 7.15 am this morning, clutching my passport and assembled documents. I was not alone - ahead of me were 12 other early birds and by the time the doors opened for security at 7.30, the queue behind me was disappearing around the corner of Grosvenor Square.
Luckily the sun was shining but if its raining/cold you are in a for a grim time.

8am is the designated appointment time although it turns out everyone is told the same time and it is first come, first served. Security being as it is, you are not allowed to take any electronic items into the Embassy - including mobile phones, i pods, even car key fobs. 2 out of the 12 ahead of me fell at the first hurdle and were sent with tail between legs to a shop down the road that's making a killing offering short term safe deposit for such items.

After 3 separate security checks, I made it into the building, just before 8am. Another check of paperwork and then you are assigned a number. Then its up into the waiting area where you watch the screens like a hawk til your number is called. This took about 15 minutes then there was another check and fingerprints and then a further fingerprint check at another window until you are sent back to your seat to wait again. It doesn't seem to go in number order so I guess some visa types take longer to process than others. I've heard stories of others waiting hours at this point (there are toilets and a cafe area) but, as it turned out, mine was just 10 minutes.

A nice man from the Embassy gave me the once over, asked a few pertinent questions re my intentions stateside and then stared at his screen for a very long time (well, seemed it anyway) until he finally announced I was good to go. A quick stop at the courier service to organise having my passport sent back to me and I was out by 8.30am. Result!

And the damage... well, a 5 min phone call to set up the appointment in the first place (charged at £1.60 per minute = £8), the charge for the visa itself $130 (approx £86), peak rate train ticket to get to London in time for the 8am appointment, £22.50 and £14.20 for the courier cost of the passport - a grand total of £130.70. Of course if you don't happen to live within striking distance of London (or Belfast) you'll have more travel costs, time wasting, possibly even overnight accommodation on top of that.

They don't make it easy do they?!

Anyone else had good/bad experiences applying for visas? Feel free to leave a comment.

Short break in Catalonia

2009-06-16T10:31:00.007+01:00

Its rare for me to get the chance to revisit filming venues but sometimes the temptation is just too great. Ever since we filmed in Catalonia last May, I have been waiting for my chance to check back in to the Castell D'Emporda as a guest rather than for work. Fortunately, this is an easy one to arrange. Just wait for the Ryanair price to be right (in our case just £36 for 2 return tickets) and no excuses necessary. A 2 hour flight and 30 minute drive is all it takes to be transported to this Catalonian gem.

The images speak for themselves - enjoying the most idyllic rural setting, mid way between Gerona and the coast, this splendid 800 year old castle has been lovingly restored and extended by its Dutch owners. Located just outside La Bisbal, a quirky little town famous for its ceramics, the hotel stands at the end of quiet road in lovely Mediterranean gardens including water features, a shaded walk through the woods and a well stocked kitchen garden. The castle centres around a large open courtyard - perfect for al fresco dining - and then you go down a level to the swimming pool, surrounded by individual and double loungers.

What's so clever about the restoration is how they've managed to seamlessly combine the ancient and modern. Careful use of glass, contemporary styling and luxurious soft furnishings perfectly compliment the original features of the building and mellow ancient stone. There are rooms within the original castle but we stayed in a garden suite, in a newly constructed block sunk into the hillside with views out to the surrounding countryside. The rooms are spacious and well considered. The style is quite simple with wooden floors, neutral walls but the lavish velvet and silk soft furnishings add a real sense of luxury. The bathrooms too deserve special mention - its rare indeed to have a bath big enough for two and a view!

As everywhere in the region, the food here is excellent. In line with economic pressure I noticed the evening set menu has been pared down from a 48 euro gastronomic affair to a more affordable 29 euro, 3 course 'market menu' (plus a la carte options). Regardless, my tuna carpaccio followed by tender lamb kebabs and a heavenly strawberry and cream cheese dessert were delicious!

The hotel works hard to get creative and keep guests coming back. They are just coming to the end of highly successful Jazz concert series (held in the very funky basement bar which opens out to gardens) and are hoping to repeat that in the Autumn. And they also do well with groups - wedding parties (who can make use of the small private chapel), private parties and family gatherings.

For me, I need no other inducement to return - the Castell D'Emporda is already way up there on my list of favourite short break spots.

Click here to see our video on the Catalonia region and special offers at the hotel

Notes from... The British Virgin Islands

2009-05-03T16:40:00.007+01:00

I got chatting to a lady on our outward flight to Antigua - she was heading there with a group of 20 to celebrate a friends 50th - nice booking for someone. They were Caribbean repeaters but when I told her I was heading on to the British Virgin Islands she was puzzled - the British 'what' she asked, where are they? Well as it happens, they are a short Liat hop on from Antigua but her response kind of sums up both the problem and appeal of the BVI's. As there are no direct flights, they have never been on the mainstream tourist map and, those who have already discovered them would prefer to keep it that way.

Scenically the BVI's are drop dead gorgeous. A cluster of some 60 or so islands of varying shapes and sizes, some inhabited, most not and each with their own character, appeal, stunning white sand beaches and seas of every shade of blue you can imagine. Aside from The Baths on Virgin Gorda (the main excursion call for cruise passengers) nowhere is ever packed and, in fact, more often than not, you can have entire stretches of beach completely to yourself.

The water will often be busier than land as this is, after all, yachtie heaven - the islands cluster around a huge body of water providing deep water, line of sight sailing, a wealth of hideaway moorings and anchorages plus a steady wind generally from the East. Our visit coincided with the annual Spring Regatta so I guess it was busier than usual but even so, there's plenty of open water for all.

Even if you are not a sailor it would be just plain wrong to visit the BVI's and not spend time on the water but if you prefer to sleep on terra firma there are plenty of options.

The style is generally laid back, barefoot chic. The most famous name is Richard Branson's Necker Island (he is also now developing another resort on nearby Mosquito island) but there are no big name chains here, each hotel is individual and unique and for those who seek complete privacy there are some pretty gorgeous private villas too. Of the properties we visited, I would highlight 3 hotels in particular:

Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda - a 30 minute water taxi ride gets you there from the airport and the arrival alone to the pretty marina is as fine a start to a Caribbean holiday that I can imagine.
Accommodation is in rustic chic villas spread throughout the grounds, each with two bikes (tip: peddle backwards to brake!!) so you can easily explore the island and take the 5 minute scoot down to the beach. Another nice touch is the fleet of Boston Whalers (small flat bottom motorboats) that guests can borrow to potter round the coastline on snorkelling expeditions.

Peter Island resort - a unique island location with a truly stunning beach. The newly renovated beachfront villas are beautiful and the resort also has a highly rated Spa. The current GM is extremely hands on and it shows in the service and overall atmosphere - its a very happy place.

Frenchmans on Tortola - only recently re-opened after extensive refurbishment this is a real gem located on Frenchman's Quay on the south west coast. Very romantic, the resort has a collection of one and two bedroom villas, each luxuriously furnished and with all mod cons. There's also a small pool, private beach and tennis but a key highlight is the Waterfront restaurant - without doubt serving the best cocktails and food we had anywhere. Their Stay and Sail package is particularly tempting.

Click here to view the BVI Island Guide video
Click here to learn more Sailing in the BVI

Caribbean roll

2009-05-03T16:32:00.002+01:00

No time for blogging recently as I've been mad busy filming on three, virtually back to back Caribbean shoots - first the British Virgin Islands, then St Kitts and lastly, Barbados. For many people the Caribbean is just one region - assuming white sands, palm trees, steel bands and little else. Big mistake! If this rash of shoots has revealed anything it is that each island is completely unique - scenically, culturally, historically and almost any other 'ally' you can think of!

The results of our efforts will be on the site within the next month or so but over the next few days I will be adding notes on each to this blog and in particular detailing some of our best 'finds'...

EHIC card renewal

2009-03-26T09:39:00.004Z

If you haven't done so recently, take time to check the expiry date of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Following a big campaign a few years back you may remember switching from the old E111 forms to cards. Card bearers are entitled to reduced and sometimes free medical costs throughout Europe so its important to have it with you when you travel but even more important to check yours is still valid as the early 'batch' are now reaching expiry. The expiry date, easily missed, is in the bottom right hand corner of the card.

From my own experience, having tried and failed to renew my card online, the simplest way to do this is to ring 0845 606 2030. Once renewed, the card will be valid for a further 5 years.

Late season skiing - best snow for 25 years

2009-03-09T14:25:00.005Z

Sharing information just in from the Ski Club of Great Britain...

Conditions in the Alps and Pyrenees are as good as they have been for 25 years, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain. Skiers and boarders wanting to get to the Alps for a break over the Easter holidays will find pistes in excellent condition with good snow cover off-piste and deep snow bases.

Al Morgan, Information Manager at the Ski Club of Great Britain said, “there is still plenty of time to fit in a ski holiday before the end of the season. Many tour operators have fantastic deals available and run holidays right through to May. This is definitely the year to make the most of the excellent snow conditions. Skiing in March and April offers long days for skiing, sunny terraces for leisurely lunches and less people than the busy periods. Get out there if you can!”

Resorts open until 26th April include: Flaine, Les Arcs, Avoriaz, Meribel, La Thuile, Bormio, Davos, Wengen, Zermatt, St Anton and Lech.

Resorts open until 3rd May include: Val d’Isere, Val Thorens, Are, Pas de la Casa, Soldeu, Ischgl, Obertauern, Obergurgl, Solden, Andermatt, St Moritz, Cervinia and Hemsedal.

Only wish I had the time to go...

April holiday bargains

2009-03-09T09:41:00.002Z

The sun is out, Spring has, just about, sprung and travel bargains are the order or the day. Aside from the peak Easter bank holiday weekend, there are still plenty of great deals out there - snap 'em up before its too late.

Need inspiration? Here's just a few ideas from the travelguru.tv portfolio:

Easter on the Danube. Departs 11 April - special offer prices from £695 plus an extra 5% travelguru discount. This 6 night cruise from Budapest to Bucharest on the MS Johann Strauss provides the perfect Easter getaway. If you are new to river cruising, this is the ideal length of holiday to get a real feel for it.

Get active in St Lucia Hit the Caribbean for the last of the great winter weather. The Body Holiday at Le Sport combines indulgence and activity with customised programme of Spa treatments and sports facilities. Latest offers: book a minimum of 5 nights all inclusive and get 2 nights free (7 nights + 3 free or 10 nights + 4 free). Plus our exclusive $50 Spa credit for additional treatments

Dahabiyya Cruise on the Nile Egypt is another destination to tick off earlier in the year before temperatures rise. Special offer prices apply to selected March and April dates plus the bonus of a FREE Luxor balloon flight worth £85pp. Prices from £1435 (22 March dep) including flights

Cotswold Water Park Hotel Closer to home, how about a short break in the Cotswolds? Their newly opened self catering apartments are a bargain at £99 for 2 nights (one bedroom apartment) or let someone else worry about the catering with standard rooms from just £42pppn

Alexander House Utopia Spa wins top award

2009-03-08T14:24:00.002Z

Great news for one of our partners, the Alexander House Hotel as their Utopia Spa has picked up the Guinot Top Crown Spa award for 2009. Well done to Spa manager Jodie and all the team!

If you are one of the many foregoing a foreign holiday this year in favour of the UK but still looking for a spot of indulgence, a spa break could just fit the bill. Our 2 night Spa break includes accommodation in one of Alexander House Hotel's Spa rooms, breakfast and dinner plus 3 included treatments.

travelgurutv on Twitter

2009-02-16T14:59:00.006Z

Its the latest social networking tool that's hard to ignore - celebrities, journalists and seemingly well, everyone seems to tuning in to Twitter right now. Including me! (twitter name travelgurutv)

For the uninitiated, its basically gossip online. But the great thing is, its gossip that you can tailor to your own interests - you choose to 'follow' people who you think might have something interesting to say but, if and when you find out that they don't, you simply unfollow them. Nothing personal, just tailoring the information flow. Likewise people do the same to you and before you know it, you're getting great little nuggets of info from a whole host of people all around the world. For those interested in travel its brilliant - from breaking news and travel articles to great website finds and local travel tips. It works best as a two way street - its all about sharing information. Ask a question and almost certainly someone will be willing to give you an answer.

Posts are limited to 140 characters so short and sweet is the order of the day - and what you can't say in a couple of lines can always be expanded on with links to full articles and blog posts.

To find some travel folk to follow, feel free to start with me, (Twitter name: travelgurutv) and my list of follows - look forward to tweeting you soon...

alltop lists travelguru.tv

2009-02-03T15:05:00.004Z

In our continued efforts to spread the word about quality travel video online, we were delighted to get noticed by alltop.com, the site that claims to have all the top stories. Apart from the fact taht we are in it, its travel section is well worth checking out for all sorts of new leads, travel tips and generally interesting stuff.

Save money on tyres

2009-01-29T11:26:00.003Z

Have tyres will travel? Tenuous link I know but an excuse to tell you about my new best friend at Black Circles Tyres . I met the MD, Michael Welch at the BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur Awards launch last night. Another opportunity to mention that travelguru.tv won one of these lovely awards :-) but Michael won the overall 'Entrepreneur of the Year' title and deservedly so, as he has built a very successful and fast growing business around providing cheaper tyres and fitting services to customers. Basically, Black Circles promise to save you 40% on High Street tyre costs. As it happens, we need new tyres so I checked it out and lo and behold saved myself £100. Not bad eh?

Video v. the printed word

2009-01-25T19:51:00.004Z

Saturday's Travel section in The Guardian could have been a travelguru edition - almost every page carrying a feature or product mention matching our content. I enjoyed reading the articles but inevitably found myself drawing comparisons with our videos covering the same subjects.
Both mediums have their pros and cons but perhaps combining both creates the perfect guide?

So I list them here for interest and invite comments as to which you prefer:

Tenerife - video v feature
Dahabiyya Nile cruise - video v feature
Girona City Break - video v short break suggestion
Cotswold Water Park - video v short break suggestion

Think its cold here?

2009-01-22T17:25:00.002Z

Just came across some great pictures for a chilly January and thought I'd share... These were taken in a town called Versoix on the shores of Lac Leman, Switzerland. Now that's what you call cold!

New visa waiver online system for travel to US

2009-01-15T12:34:00.003Z

Anyone planning to travel to the US should be aware that, as from 12 January 2008 the old Visa Waiver forms that you used to fill in on the flight have gone and been replaced by the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). Essentially its an e-version of the old paper form but it now has to be completed online at least 3 days before you intend to travel.

Once approved, you get an authorisation number which is valid for 2 years. Travellers without an approved ESTA are advised that they may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.

You can only apply for travel authorization via the ESTA Web site at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

P&O Cruises Ventura

2009-01-13T17:05:00.009Z

I bet the news desks could barely conceal their delight when they began receiving stories from disgruntled passengers on board P&O Cruises Ventura Christmas cruise. The headline in the Sunday Times was 'Ocean cruise ends in almighty brawl'. Reading between the lines though it sounds more like there were a few rowdy passengers (mainly kids) with no notion of how to behave whether on dry land or at sea. No doubt at the time they caused unpleasant scenes but I bet that the P&O staff have seen it all before and were more than capable of dealing with it - the ultimate sanction being simply to put disruptive passengers ashore which is exactly what happened here.

It seems a bit of a non story to me. The gist of it was that this particular cruise had been heavily discounted and therefore attracted what the Sunday Times describe as 'chavs'. This is quite a big assumption which I am sure must have caused considerable offence to those passengers who are perfectly well behaved but simply know a bargain when they see one!

Irrespective of price, cruising has always been considered an aspirational holiday that appeals to all sectors of the market - just as you can get 'undesirable' types in 5 star luxury resorts, so you can on a cruise ship too. The notion that cruising is only for the upper classes died out long ago.

We recently filmed on P&O Cruises Arcadia - this is a child free ship, so rowdy youths are never going to be an issue. That said, on board there was certainly a complete mix of age groups and social backgrounds. The type of people on any given holiday will of course have a big impact on your enjoyment. For that reason we try and include feedback and comments from people we meet on location so you can judge for yourself.

Of course there are never any guarantees - obnoxious people travel just like anyone else! The point though is that on a large cruise ship, just as in a large resort, it is pretty easy to avoid people. From my experience, what tends to happen is that different 'types' and age groups tend to gravitate towards different activities and styles of venue on board and for the most part, everyone is happy.

What do you think? Have you been on a P&O cruise? Does cheap holiday = 'chavs holiday'?

BT Business Essence of the Entrepreneur winner

2009-01-12T09:27:00.006Z

Celebrations in the travelguru.tv office this week as we were finally given the green light to officially announce our latest award: BT Business 'Essence of the Entrepreneur'. We are in fact one of 20 businesses to be recognised, each chosen for their innovative use of technology. As well as the honour of being selected the prize was a portrait session with world renowned photographer Rankin. The shoot actually took place back in September (and very exciting it was too) but the winners are only just now being officially announced to coincide with an exhibition of the photographs at the Oxo Tower in London running from 29 January to 01 March 2009.

Imagine how hard its been keeping it a secret! Amidst all the current doom and gloom its fantastic to have something positive to shout about. Looking at the list of winners, it proves entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking in the UK

Happy Travelling in 2009

2009-01-04T13:49:00.006Z

If ever there was a good time to plan an escape, its now! Regular January blues combined with credit crunch overload make the prospect of blue skies and a change of scene more enticing than ever.

We all have to be realistic though and belt tightening is the order of the day - everyone is on the hunt for the best deal. But, a word of caution; when it comes to holidays 'best deal' doesn't always translate into 'cheapest deal'.

In the travel world, 'bargains' can so easily backfire and the old adage of 'you get what you pay for' still applies. Don't get me wrong, I'm as thrilled as the next person to find cheap airfares but in many ways (providing it actually takes off more or less on time) the flight is the least important element of a holiday - choosing a resort, accommodation and excursions that will match your expectations are key. The last thing anyone needs right now is a bad holiday. Our time off is way too precious to risk anything going wrong.

At travelguru.tv we like to think we've got the holiday research 'nut' cracked - what could be more reassuring than having a trusted travel commentator test out a given holiday or destination on your behalf and not only that, but be able to watch a video of their experience? What's more, if you like what you see, you can then book the very same holiday and be assured of the best possible deal.

We wish you all nothing but happy travels in 2009!

Culture in the Canaries

2008-12-08T15:24:00.012Z

Granted, Tenerife is not usually associated with more high brow interests but visitors to the capital, Santa Cruz are in for a treat.

Down on the seafront, the Auditorium, which looks like a mini version of the Sydney Opera House, provides a spectacular venue for local artists as well as touring orchestras, musicians and productions. During our recent shoot we were treated to a tour of the main concert hall and can testify that the acoustics, as you would expect, are amazing.

And now the Auditorium has been joined by the capital's latest cultural attraction, the innovative TEA (Tenerife Espacia de las Artes). The building itself is as much of an attraction as the art and sculpture on display. Created by architects, Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron (the men behind projects such as the Tate Modern in London and 'Birds Nest' Olympic Stadium in Beijing), the interior was designed to stimulate sensations and movement by expanding dynamic spaces towards the exterior. Diagonal components across the floor plan and several slopes allow the outside world to seep into the interior and spread across the outdoor patio. The light-filled interior houses a series of permanent and temporary exhibitions. It is also home to Tenerife's main library - lucky students who get to study here - as well as a shop, cafe area and partially covered Plaza.

These two buildings combined with a visit to the nearby university town and UNESCO listed, La Laguna make for a great day out, easily accessible no matter where you stay on the island.

Turns out Tenerife is full of surprises - see more of the island on video...

World Travel Market in London

2008-11-12T15:41:00.006Z

Been very slack on the blogging front recently as we've been super busy out on location filming new video reports. This week too is a hectic one for anyone in travel as the great and good of the industry gather at Excel in London for the annual World Travel Market extravaganza.

Apart from the acute embarassment of London's public transport and its inability to get the crowds there efficiently (what should have been a 1.5 hour journey took me 4 hours on Monday!) - it is a quite an event and, if it were to be held up as a barometer of how things are in the industry, noone would believe there was any economic crisis! The stands were as lavish as ever, with each country attempting to out do its competitors, celebrities were there in abundance and, as is tradition within the travel trade, generous hospitality in the way of nibbles and beverages was forthcoming.

I always find it exciting to attend the show - if only to remind myself how much of the world is left to explore...

XL Leisure Group demise

2008-09-16T08:50:00.006+01:00

Here at travelguru.tv we firmly believe, when it comes to tour operating, small is most definitely best. Small tour operators generally have a genuine passion for a product or place, develop a team of dedicated and knowledgable staff and, above all, have a vested interest in providing the highest levels of service to their customers. And if more evidence were needed, the weekend turmoil caused by the collapse the XL Leisure Group and a fire in the Eurotunnnel provided it.

A case in point...one of our tour operator partners, Travel Editions who specialise in Eurostar trips, were directly effected. As the news of the fire broke on Thursday evening, their MD and his team worked through the night to make alternative arrangements for their 3 groups in France due back the following day. Having sorted out coach and ferry plans by about 3 am, the news of the XL collapse was just coming through. With passengers forward booked on their services to Crete, they then ploughed on til dawn rebooking said passengers on alternative flights. So as the sun rose on what proved to be an horrendous day for the travel industry, job done with nothing but praise emerging from passengers effected.

Quoting from customer emails...

I just wanted to congratulate all concerned in getting our group back home so efficiently when the channel tunnel was closed. I had been envisioning being unable to get back home any time soon, but our coach driver got us to Calais quickly, we did not have to wait all that long to get on the ferry, and then we found our coach waiting to take us to London when we got off at Dover. Bernard, our courier, kept us all informed, and I do realise that at your end a lot of effort must have gone into all these arrangements. So well done, one and all!

Just to thank you for a very efficient rescue package when the eurostar fire affected our return journey.We also wish to bring to your attention the remarkable skill with which our tour guide, Karen, handled a very difficult day.The death of a client on holiday coupled with the travel difficulties was handled by her with great competance and we cannot speak too highly of her professional attitude

When I heard Dermot Blastland (MD of TUI) on BBC Breakfast News trying to spin the bad news to a positive for the remaining 'Big Two' (TUI and Thomas Cook) it really got my goat. His implication that your holiday is only 'safe' if you book with them is utter rubbish - all the operators we work with are fully bonded so, big or small, your money is protected. The point is more that when things do go wrong, how do the organisations react? Do they use it as a PR opportunity to bang their own drum or do they roll their sleeves up and work through the night to take care of their passengers? I know who I'd rather trust with my hard earned holiday cash...

Jade Mountain, St Lucia

2008-09-06T15:56:00.014+01:00

During our latest shoot in St Lucia we stayed in several different resorts but for me, Jade Mountain, near Soufriere in the south of the island really stood out.

Opened just last year, this is an extraordinary hotel in all senses of the word. Set above the long established and popular Anse Chastenet Resort, Jade Mountain rises up from the very top of the hill like some sort of Thunderbirds docking station. The main part of the building connects to the slope by mean of concrete bridges which are actually all individual pathways leading to your suite. The hill side face of the building is a mass of dark wood louvres with almost hidden doors but, beyond those doors are the most breathtaking suites I have ever seen.

For a start, each of the 24 suites is huge (the largest is over 2000 sq ft). They are all of course achingly stylish, they each have a large, totally private infinity edge pool but the most stunning feature is that the 4th wall is completely open and offers uninterrupted views out to sea and across to St Lucia's iconic twin Piton mountains. There are no phones, no TV and internet access only in reception - this is about pure escapism and tuning in to nature in the most luxurious and decadent fashion. The open wall means that you fall asleep to the nightime orchestra of the forest below, you wake to the sound of birdsong and you lie in your wonderfully comfortable four poster bed watching dawn break over the Pitons.

On hand to cater to your every whim is your 'major domo' - a personal butler who will unpack for you, iron your clothes, book any trips you might want, organise room service if you can't make it up to the Terrace Restaurant, in fact they will do anything you ask. Its the ultimate in understated decadence and, due to the high level of privacy provided by the location and the nature of the suites, its fast becoming a favourite with celebrities. Discretion is the watchword of Jade Mountain's amazing staff although one did let slip to me that Johnny Wilkinson has been recent guest.

Of course, it doesn't come cheap - expect to pay around £3-4000 for 7 nights. But, for a spectacular Caribbean wedding location, romantic honyemoon or indulgent hideaway - look no further! Watch the video at travelguru.tv

Using hynotherapy to cure flight sickness

2008-08-12T15:55:00.005+01:00

Taking advantage of the August 'lull' and spurred on by the generally gloomy news and weather, we've just grabbed a quick week away in sunny Sardinia - and very lovely it was too. The highlight of my week though was undoubtedly the flights - no, not because I'm completely barmy and love the sheer lack of comfort and service provided by what we have come to know as 'low cost' airlines but - because this was quite literally the first flight in 7 years I have taken with my middle son where he has NOT been sick.

Hard to say what started it, but basically from the age of 9, Sam has not been able to go near a plane without puking. And for the son of a travel writing parent, that's quite unfortunate. I don't just mean feeling rough - we are talking gut wrenching, consistent vomiting - terrible for him and everyone around him. The problem has got worse as he's got older - for a strapping 6'3" teenager its bad enough being shoehorned into a cramped seat but when you know you are going to be ill as well its bordering on the unbearable.

We knew it wasn't motion sickness - over the years we've tried everything on the market from wristbands to standard travel sickness pills through to prescribed heavy anti nausea drugs. We also knew it wasn't a fear of flying as such but the issue was certainly more psychogical than physical. I guess because of the escalating severity of the problem, it has become more of a fear by association i.e. flying equals nausea

But...a breakthough, we finally decided to try hypnotherapy. Researching the possibilities on the internet I came across http://www.hypnotherapy-online.co.uk/ Run by professional hypnotherapist Paul Hughes, the site offers an opportunity to create a personalised CD to target specific problems. You complete an online form which gives some basic information about the problem, its negative impact as well as positive influences in your life and Paul records a 35 minute CD using the information.

In our case the results were immediate - we received the CD a week before our scheduled holiday and Sam listened to it 3 or 4 times, reporting a positive effect and increased confidence that he could 'crack it'. And crack it he did!! On the outbound flight we were not 100% convinced - he wasn't sick but certainly felt rough. But on the return flight, he was his normal self and able to sit up, look out the window and, if not actually enjoy the flight, at least tolerate it.

I can't tell you what a relief it is for him and us - we need to get a few more flying miles under our belts to be certain he is 'cured' but there is no doubt at all that the hypnotherapy gave him the confidence to face the problem and deal with it. Its certainly the best £30 I've ever spent!
If you suffer from a similar problem I strongly recommend giving it a try.

The winner takes it all...

2008-07-23T11:47:00.003+01:00

Whatever you might think about Piers Brosnan's singing talents, there is a clear winner in the movie version of Mamma Mia: the picturesque Greek island of Skopelos where the film was shot.

For the uninitiated, the completely bonkers 'plot' links together a whole series of Abba hits and tells the tale of Donna (Meryl Streep) who runs a hotel on a Greek island. Her daughter, Sophie, is about to marry and decides to invite her mother's 3 former boyfriends - anyone one of whom could be her father - to the wedding. The whole thing is utterly daft but very funny - mainly down to brilliant performances from Julie Walters and Christine Baranski (Donna's two best friends).

Meryl Streep's finest moment is her stirring rendition of 'The Winner Takes it All'. The shot that supports this song - at the foot of a steep path leading up to the hilltop chapel where the wedding is to take place - will surely do tourism to Skopelos more good than any advertising campaign. That, and the sparkling emerald seas are enough to make you jump on the next available flight...

For info see http://www.skopelosweb.gr/

Haunting Breaks

2008-07-18T10:52:00.009+01:00

In our mission to provide an eclectic mix of holiday inspiration, our latest travelguru.tv outing took us this week to Ludlow in Shropshire for a Haunting Break. Our venue was the suitably atmospheric Feathers Hotel, a remarkable 17th century timber frame building positively oozing history from every beam. In the oldest part of the hotel, creaky floors, low beams, plenty of dark knooks and crannies, stained glass and tapestries build an atmosphere where you wouldn't be at all surprised to see someone float through a wall. Mercifully though, the newly refurbished (and very impressive) rooms are more condusive to a good night's sleep.

Ludlow itself is a gorgeous market town and on a glorious July afternoon it was looking very fine indeed. Complete with castle, a splendid Parish Church and over 500 listed buildings, not to mention a number of exceptionally good restaurants, delis and cafes its the kind of place where you could easily lose a few days. In typical travelguru fashion though, we of course had no time to linger - we had to get on with the serious business of filming an evening exploring the paranormal.

I'll admit to being slightly apprehensive about this particular filming assignment - I would put myself in the sceptics camp but there is no question that some things just cannot be explained.

To my relief though, this was less about running around in the dark looking for ghosts and more about learning about the different techniques that can be used to establish energy fields - dowsing for example. You'll have to watch the video to see what went on but, suffice to say, it was an evening full of surprises!

Notes from...Sardinia

2008-07-01T14:44:00.004+01:00

Just back from our latest travelguru.tv shoot in Sardinia and, for once, we managed a complete 5 days with no weather issues - clear blue skies and perfect heat. June really is a beautiful month in the Med.

Concentrating on the north of the island, we started out in Alghero then drove across to check out an inland rural hotel (Su Gologone) and finally headed up to the jet set playground that is the Costa Smeralda. Renaldo was in town apparently and there was much discussion as to whether the very swanky Hamliton II yacht docked in Porto Cervo belonged to Lewis.

Sadly we had no celebrity encounters but the whole team, including travelguru Paul Gogarty, were very impressed with the island - so much so that all of us plan to revisit for personal holiday. Its hard not to be seduced by the stunning coastline, crystal clear water and sublime food. What I really loved though was the individuality of all the hotels - no high rises here - each has been carefully planned to blend in with environment and make the most of some truly outstanding settings. Our tour operator partner, Just Sardinia, know the island inside out and have a great selection of properties.

The results of our filming will be up on the site within the next month but in the meantime if you happen to be heading Alghero way - top tip - plan a lunch in the Old Town at the Osteria Macchiavelo. Grab a table outside in the shade with a lovely sea view and try the local speciality spaghetti with lobster - bliss!

Make the going easy ex Stansted...

2008-06-30T12:16:00.004+01:00

I recently had an dawn flight out of Stansted and the thought of driving there for check in at 4am was just too much. So I scouted round for nearby accommodation and was pleased to find Harwood Guest House, a cosy B+B just 10 minutes down the road. Run by a lovely young couple, Helen and Ian, there are 6 en suite rooms available - carpet choices are bit dodgy in places but it has a very homely feel and I can vouch for an extremely comfortable bed, good in-room facilities and it is spotlessly clean. I'm told the cooked breakfast is great but, if you have an early morning start and can't face eating, they'll send you off with a packed alternative. Better still, they do a great deal combining accommodation with airport parking - poor old Ian has a tough life but is there with a smile no matter what time needed to run you to and from the airport and take care of your car in their large car park while you are away. Great value with rooms from £60 per night plus only £25 for the airport transfer/parking service. Highly recommended to de-stress early morning Stansted departures.

Local Guru - Cape Town, SA

2008-06-13T17:44:00.007+01:00

Written by Amanda Poulson (51) second home owner and frequent visitor to Cape Town

Getting there/around
Car hire is essential (book well in advance for peak season). Driving is on the left and very straightforward. Although public transport in the form of trains, buses and minibus taxis is cheap and covers the metropolitan area it is not safe from either the point of view of personal security or road safety. Private hire cabs and minibuses are fine but need to be booked in advance. When parking on the street or in off road car parks you will need to tip the car guard. These are not official or accredited but will look out for your car. However don’t pay up front – do it when you come back to the car. 10 – 20 rand is usually enough, a bit more if they’ve found you a spot where spaces are hard to find. In the city there are now official attendants and rates for parking.

Staying there
The standard of all levels of accommodation is generally very high. You won’t be disappointed by any of the top hotels in the area although they are quite pricey (£250 per night plus). It would be a shame to stay in the city bowl for a whole week when there are stunning hotels in the Constantia Winelands (20 minutes away) such as Steenberg and Cellars Hohenhort (Relais & Chateaux). For a family or a group renting a house is a great option – choose an area like Llandudno or Constantia and you will be living a millionaire lifestyle at an affordable price. There are also hundreds of very comfortable and stylish B&Bs (personal favourite is Kidger House in Newlands). Stay away from chains such as Holiday Inn – they’re the same standard as elsewhere in the world but the local independent options are way better in terms of standards and value for money.

Things to do
Table Mountain and Cape Point Peninsula. There is a cable car up the mountain (arrive early to beat the queues and check it is running before setting out) or you can hike up and cable car down. There are various hiking routes for example a four hour medium challenge walk that starts at Constantia Nek. You don’t have to join a guided group but you should never hike alone and bear in mind that obvious tourists can be vulnerable to mugging.

The drive down to False Bay coast that takes in Kalk Bay, Simonstown and Boulders. Kalk Bay is a working fishing port and has loads of high quality craft shops, restaurants and quirky antique shops. Boulders is home to the jackass penguins who are definitely worth a visit. Next stop is the spectacularly beautiful Cape Point National Park where there are gorgeous beaches and spectacular seascapes. It is also home to a variety of wildlife notably ostriches which are fine and baboons which should be treated with caution.

Robben Island - people feel thay should go but I would say its time consuming and if its an engaging insight into the realities and complexities of apartheid that you want then go to The District Six Museum and have a local guide show you round followed by the Slavery museum round the corner.

Greenmarket Square for the daily African crafts market offering the best quality and prices for souvenirs.

The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront probably should be visited once but it is essentially a touristy shopping mall. There is much better high end shopping in the Cavendish Square Mall (Claremont) and Newlands Village. Depending on the exchange rate diamond and gold jewellery, homewares and clothing are the best buys.

The vineyards at Constantia, Franschoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch are on most people’s itinerary although, unless you’re very serious about wine, a day trip is enough to visit a vineyard or two and admire the scenery. Drinking the wine is a pleasure all the time.

World class rugby and cricket at Newlands (the grounds are next to each other). Its very easy (and cheap!) to get tickets and well worth going for the atmosphere alone. Cape Town is surrounded by championship golf courses. All (except Erinvale) are easy to book into and far less costly than the equivalent standard of course elsewhere – try Pearl Valley.

Eating out
Cape Town is a foody paradise. Go to the Constantia Winelands and choose from La Colombe (Constantia Uitsig), Buitenverwachting or Cellars Hohenhort for fine dining at around £30 a head. In the city, my favourites are Ginja (fusion), 95 on Keerom (modern Italian) and Bukhara (Indian). For self catering or picnics Melissa’s, Pick n Pay and Woolworths (M&S equivalent) are all very, very good. Kalk Bay has superb take away fish and chips and the Olympia Café is a lovely bakery. On Saturdays there is a Farmers Market at the The Old Biscuit Mill in Salt River. Franschoek (about an hour drive) has several highly regarded restaurants. Reubens is one of the best. Around Christmas and New Year it is essential to book advance. Tip 15% for good service. Smart casual is acceptable everywhere including the top hotel restaurants.

Safety
The crime rate is undeniably high and houses all have an intimidating level of security. However, like any city, there are safe places to be and areas that you should avoid. The city centre, the waterfront and the southern suburbs are all perfectly safe given normal sensible precautions. A visit to the townships needs to be an organised guided tour. Car doors should be locked when driving and a mobile is vital to summon help if you find yourself in an area where its not safe to get out of the car. There are vagrants and hawkers at traffic lights (robots is the local term) – it’s fine to ignore them, there are much better ways of making donations to help people in need.

Local Guru - St Ives, Cornwall

2008-06-09T14:46:00.007+01:00

Written by Julie Cleaver (47) second home owner, St Ives

Getting There/Getting around.

By train - Paddington to Penzance takes 5 ½ hours Take the small coastal branch line to St Ives by changing at St Erth, the stop before Penzance.

By road - the completion and recent improvements to the A30 make driving far easier - approx 5 hours from London but, to avoid the inevitable summer queues, travel very early or late.

By air - the fastest way to travel - Southwest Airlines still operate 3 flights a day from Gatwick and Manchester to Newquay, (45 mins flight) This will set you back about £200 with a taxi to St Ives (another 40 mins)

Note: St Ives is not “car- friendly” so all vehicles have to be parked out of town in the local car parks. Walking up steep cobbled streets with suitcases can be difficult but you can use the local taxis that are permitted into the centre in July and August.

Staying there

There are loads of B+B’s and Guest Houses with views over St Ives Bay and an abundance of self-catering apartments and small fishermen’s cottages for rent - full of character and all within walking distance of the town centre and harbour due to the island shape of this south west peninsular.

The Tregenna Castle Estate has hotel accommodation and self catering apartments of a very high standard . Perched high on the winding hill into St Ives, set in tropical gardens, it has spectacular views and its own small golf course, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pool. Only 5-10 mins walk down into St Ives, but a lot longer and hard work to walk back up.

http://www.tregenna-castle.co.uk/ or http://www.stives.co.uk/ for other accommodation info.

Things to do

St Ives has fantastic white sandy beaches. Porthminster just below the railway station is very popular with families, Porthmeor on the opposite side of St Ives below The Tate Gallery has larger waves and attracts surfers, Pothgwidden and the harbour beaches are also very safe and popular.

On the other hand from both sides of the peninsular there are long scenic coastal walks as well as inland walks to local villages for a cream tea or a cornish pasty. The shops in St Ives consist mainly of art galleries, souvenirs and surf shops. The Tate Gallery and The Barbara Hepworth Museum are just two of the most popular places to visit.

Carbis Bay and Lelant are both accessible by train on the scenic branch line from St Ives, or by walking the picturesque coastal path. Both beautiful beaches, well worth a visit but Lelant (or Porthkidney Sands as it is better known) has no facilites in the way of toilets or cafes.

Eating out

A variety of restaurants, harbour cafes and pubs. Ranging from high class cuisine of local produce and freshly caught fish, to pasty and chips and ice cream. Watch out for the greedy seagulls who will swoop down and take your chips and ice cream whne you are not looking.

Most of the restaurants need to be booked in advance in July and August and now too at Christmas and New Year .The St Ives New Year celebrations where the whole of St Ives becomes a fancy dress party has attracted more and more people over the years and is quite a spectacle finishing with a firework display over the harbour at midnight.

My favourite restaurant is the Porthminster café overlooking the beach and St Ives Bay. Has had many complimentary reviews in national press, worth a visit!

Local Guru - Soller, Majorca

2008-06-08T12:11:00.007+01:00

Written by Sally Dowling (51), frequent visitor to Soller

Getting there/around
If you can, forget car hire and take the number 1 bus from the airport to Palma’s main square – Plaza Espana. It costs €1.80.

The railway station is to the left of the square and the trains run roughly every hour to Soller but with a gap over lunchtime. The journey takes just over an hour and is a real experience. The little wooden train trundles through the back streets of Palma and then over the flat plains before disappearing into a series of tunnels through the Tramantana Mountains. It costs about €10.

On arrival in Soller you will find most hotels are within walking distance of the station but there is a taxi rank if need be.

Staying there
We stay at La Vila http://www.lavilahotel.com/. It is a restored town house right on the main square. The 8 rooms are very comfortable but quite simple. The owner – Toni – is very helpful. Book B&B and then have an evening meal in the hotel restaurant if you have time. The food is very good. Quite an adult hotel with no facilities for children.

Other hotels are Le Gran Hotel Soller, just around the corner from La Vila. It has the advantage of large hotel facilities including a swimming pool and spa.

The Salvia is a beautiful, if more expensive boutique hotel http://www.hotelsalvia.com/.

Le Avenida is another, more contemporary boutique hotel http://www.avenida-hotel.com/.

Things to do
The town of Soller is a working Spanish town with a daily market and

bustling atmosphere that centres around the main square. One of its

great attractions is the pretty trams that run between the town and port – 3 miles away. A great day out is to walk to the port, have lunch and get the tram back.

Port Soller is being upgraded from a simple fishing port and made into more of a tourist destination. Its popular for those who want the beach on the doorstep. I haven’t any personal recommendations of hotels but have heard the Hotel Esport is popular. And also the Esplendido.

Walking is the number one pastime and a trail through the mountains to the tiny hamlet of Fornalutx with lunch at the beautifully positioned Es Turo restaurant is a great day out.

Another option is take the public bus to Deia and walk back. Home to the famous La Residencia Hotel, Deia is always full of ‘beautiful’ people in unsuitable shoes!

Further away is Valldemossa – another pretty town with lots of history and interest.

If you need a day trip then take the train back into Palma for the day. Palma has a lot to offer, shops, sightseeing, marina and lovely gardens. It is hopeless for parking though so go by train or the new Express Bus.

Eating out
Places to eat in Soller include the very authentic Spanish Restaurant Sa Cova. Good Italian food at Don Capriani in the Gran Via. The bars around the square sell good tapas, especially the Café Soller.

An invitation to...local gurus

2008-06-08T11:30:00.005+01:00

By nature, a travel writer is constantly in search of new destinations, new angles, emerging trends so its rare indeed for our regular travelgurus to revisit the same place. The breadth of their combined knowledge is unrivalled but when it comes down to the nitty gritty, its hard to beat up to date, first hand recommendations.

Being resident in a tourist area would certainly qualify you as a local guru. Equally those who own second homes or simply have fallen in love with a location and make it their annual holiday base have a font of 'guru' knowledge that deserves to be shared...

What we are after is the kind of information everyone strives to find in the course of a holiday - the best places to stay, eat and visit, hidden gems, avoiding the crowds and top tips on where the locals go. The sort of advice that can save time, effort and costly mistakes.

To start us off we have an insider guide to Soller, Majorca penned by one the travelguru team, Sally Dowling. Having visited many times, Sally and husband Clive are big fans of this once little known village on Majorca. To view Sally's notes on Soller just click on the Local Guru label.

To join in and become a 'Local Guru' simply send your details to cathy.bartrop@travelguru.tv
And, if you are reading Local Guru notes and want to add some of your own advice, feel free to add your comments.

Britain's got talent!

2008-06-01T13:50:00.006+01:00

If ever you need evidence, other than dancing dogs and body popping duos, that Britain has indeed got talent, check out http://www.enterprisenation.co.uk/ Here you will find an ecletic mix of inspiring and creative people all striving to make a living working from home. The site provides a free and invaluable resource for ideas, advice and discussion forums.

Here at http://www.travelguru.tv/ we are firm believers in the benefits of home working. As a husband and wife team, our entire operation including management and post production is conducted from a converted garage at the rear of our house.

It is truly amazing what goes on behind spare room, living room even garden shed doors! Did you know that there are 2.1 million home based businesses in the UK, contributing £364 billion in turnover to the UK economy? All power to them!

Everyone loves a winner!

2008-05-29T14:25:00.002+01:00

Big news for us - http://www.travelguru.tv/ has won its first (of many, we hope!) award. The Travelmole Web Awards ceremony was held on Thursday 15 May at the Canadian High Commission in Trafalgar Square, London. With over 12oo nominations for 14 different categories, we were chuffed just to be nominated (yeah I know they all say that - but, no really, we were!). But to win the ‘Best of Use of Video’ category was a real thrill.

What was interesting about the nominations was it wasn’t just the usual big players involved - each category had a very diverse mix ranging from start ups like us to medium size operations. Some well known names (e.g Silverjet, Visit Britain and P&O) were in there and, in my opinion, deserved to win their categories but for once, it felt like a level playing field with awards not just based on advertising spend.

See http://www.travelmole.com/ for a full list of winners

Notes from... Malta - 30 years on

2008-05-29T14:21:00.006+01:00

As a child, Malta was our regular family holiday destination. My parents invested in a holiday apartment on the south of the island, well away from the main tourist resorts and we would spend a fortnight or more there every summer. Revisiting some 30 years later for a http://www.travelguru.tv/ location shoot, I was curious to see how the island had changed…

My memories of the island are of boiling summer heat, swimming in crystal clear blue sea, chips with everything and, my annual holiday highlight, knickerbocker glories at the Wimpy in Sliema!

As it happened on this trip, Sliema was to be our base. As we drove in from Luqa airport I barely recognised the place. This always was the main tourist hub and it still is but now it seems there is hardly a square inch of land left in between the tightly packed and chaotic jumble of buildings spilling down the hill onto the seafront promenade. And alongside development comes more people, more cars, more noise. The development in fact extends right the way up the east coast of the island – St Julians, St Pauls Bay, Bugibba and Mellieha are now what brochures would refer to as ‘popular and lively’ resorts. All this development of course means much more choice when it comes to hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and casinos but picturesque it is not!

But there again Malta always has been one of those places where you need to look beyond face values. There are some pretty spots to visit – the ancient city of Mdina for instance, the Upper Baracca gardens with its splendid views of Valletta harbour and the scenic tourist haunts like the Blue Grotto - but by and large people don’t come here for the scenery. What they come for – and here is something that certainly hasn’t changed – is the virtually guaranteed sunshine and the warm familiarity of the place. The wartime connections are well known and the legacy is a population who seemingly love us Brits, who (in the main) can speak our language, drive on the ‘right’ side of the road and make us feel very much ‘at home’.

What is more, the Maltese people are truly a delight – expect to meet all sorts of different characters but it is rare indeed to come across anyone who would not go out of their way to help you out. A small example – I somehow managed to leave my mobile phone on the transfer bus from the airport to the hotel. Next day it turns out the driver had found it and answered a call from my husband which enabled him to find out where I was staying. He volunteered to bring it to the hotel and insisted on meeting me personally. The cynic in me assumed he was after a tip and, having gone to an awful lot of trouble on account of my stupidity, I was happy to offer one. To my surprise, he flatly refused to accept it. He genuinely just wanted to make sure personally that I got the ‘phone back.

Filming at the Qawra Palace Hotel up near Bugibba further re-inforced the point. The hotel is a pretty ugly concrete block on the Qawra seafront and yet we met guests who come back year after year – the record going to Andy and Lillian from Aberdeen who were there on their 14th consecutive 6 month winter stay! The reason for their loyalty? Value for money of course, but also the Maltese people and the sense of security they have on the island.

Another striking change is that the food has improved beyond belief. Fresh fruit, veg and seafood were never in short supply but somehow local restaurant menus never seemed to offer much beyond grilled fish or steak and chips with everything. Now there are dozens of international restaurants to choose from with the same quality and variety as you would expect from any Mediterranean resort. The Fortina Spa Resort where we stayed is a shining example with no less than 6 different themed restaurants serving everything from freshly made pizzas to sushi. The quality of both food and service is impressive.

The trip was hectic with 3 hotels to film in as many days but on a quick side trip to get some shots of the famous coloured fishing boats at Marsaxlokk, our guide kindly squeezed in a quick detour via Birzebuggia where we had our family apartment. To my horror as we came over the brow of the hill, so did the view of the massive sea container port which now dominates the town’s somewhat ironically named ‘Pretty Bay’. My Dad would turn in his grave!

Malta seems to be a place people either love or hate – which camp are you in?

.tv

2008-05-29T14:19:00.004+01:00

We considered .tv to be an obvious choice for our video based web site http://www.travelguru.tv/ but several people have commented that they had not heard of it before.

.tv is actually the country code top level domain for the island nation of Tuvalu, a tiny dot in the South Pacific. Small it may be, but its government had the foresight in 2000 to contract lease its Internet domain name for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period. The domain is currently operated by dotTV, a VeriSign company and the Tuvalu government owns 20% of the company. What you might call a nice little earner!

If you are interested to know more about Tuvalu their offical tourism website is http://www.timelesstuvalu.com/ - and very nice it looks too!

Once you’ve heard of it, you’ll notice .tv websites are now quite commonplace but I guess there is still a natural tendency to think .com

I recently met the owner of another travel .tv enterprise http://www.hotels.tv/ and we considered the idea of forming a “.tv” support group… any interest out there?

Up and Running

2008-05-23T13:56:00.004+01:00

Here we go taking a leap into the world of blogging. Encouraged by other bloggers who have contacted us via our newly launched website http://www.travelguru.tv/ the feeling seems to be that a blog can only add to what is already, we hope, a pretty innovative site.

The story so far… travelguru.tv came about following a chance conversation almost a year ago now with the person I now refer to as my ‘founding guru’, travel journalist, John Carter. Knowing my background as travel video producer and ruing the demiseof the BBC Holiday programme, John commented on the lack of travel programming for the more ‘mature’ traveller. If you stop to think about it, there is little on TV catering for the vast number of older people who are the ones, lets face it, who have both the funds and time to travel the world.

I took his point but we agreed it was unlikely we could get anything commissioned for TV - new programming these days is either top end drama or, at the other extreme, of the trashy celebrity, phone-in, wannabe elimination variety.

But then… the light bulb moment… I thought about creating our own dedicated TV travel channel on the internet. I had been working with a technology provider, Vividas, whose software allows you to get as close as I’ve seen so far to a full screen, TV viewing experience. I also have experience of negotiating travel offers for media promotion.

So then ideas, and a team of ‘gurus’, started coming together and plans evolved to establish a video based travel website that provides not only top quality video reports on different destinations but also offers independent advice from the cream of the UK’s travel commentators and gives our audience access to some great holiday offers.
We loved the idea so much, my husband gave up his full time job and together, we worked towards building the site. I wish I had kept a blog during those pre-launch days but perhaps the blood, sweat and (at times) tears are best forgotten. For the record though, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to John, our other launch gurus and some visionary tour operators who trusted us enough to come on board and help us get it off the ground.

Anyway cut a long story short, we hit our target and travelguru.tv was born in January 08. Now we wait to see if our unique concept will take off. All signs are good but its still early days…
Our challenge now is to build awareness of the site and keep adding new video offers - next location shoot is in Malta next week.

We would love to know what you think about travel programming on TV?
And, of course any feedback or comments relating to travelguru.tv are very welcome.

(written by Cathy Bartrop)