Category Archives: Spotlight

Our ‘Desperate Housewives’ trip to Southern Italy & Sicily – Part Three

Posted on October 10, 2011 | 1 Comment

Our first night in Sicily, and we were whisked off to a Be My Guest dinner at a spectacular Sicilian winery and restaurant on the slopes of Mount Etna. Our host chatted with us about the different varieties of grapes they grow and the wines they produce, while we tasted their signature wine ‘Liperus’ with home-made appetisers. The food, which was all true Sicilian fare, was delicious and we tried a different wine with each course. A fun night was had by all.

Next day, we drove up into the mountains to what looked like from the road a fortress! But wow – once we were there it was this incredible old medieval town called Enna, with locals living there, beautiful coffee shops, souvenir shops, churches and gardens.

After a night in the coastal town of Agrigento, we were on our way to the Sicilian capital Palermo. We stopped in a seaside town called Erice where a lot of Europeans and Italians buy holiday flats and houses. Very quaint and authentic with fabulous shopping and lots of great restaurants.

In Palermo, we did a city tour, visited the local markets with fresh fish, meats, fruits and veg. All displayed so beautifully. We visited a lovely church St Rosalina, known for its healing waters from the mountain.

As we drove through the city, we were surprised to be stopping in the heart of the suburbs. Next thing we knew, our Travel Director was showing us a Hidden Treasure – a historical family-owned Sicilian jewellery-making house. The building was magnificent, and the jewellery was exquisite.

Everyone was very impressed by how the Travel Director knew about this place. In fact, we were pleased with everything he did to make our holiday so carefree and fun.

Italy is really about the culture and enjoying life and our Travel Director made sure we got to experience this – the people, great food, the vino and of course, Prosecco!

My friends and I changed the motto of ‘eat, pray and love’ to ‘laugh, drink and shop’ and hence had the most amazing trip ever. Italy and Sicily will never be the same again – with 25 pairs of shoes and 22 handbags, not to mention the endless bottles of Prosecco, having been purchased, we feel we did our bit for the Italian economy!

Natalie Farnell
Sales Manager, Trafalgar South Africa

Trafalgar – the beautiful sights of Sicily

Trafalgar – the beautiful sights of Sicily

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Posted in Be My Guest, Sightseeing, Spotlight, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences

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Our ‘Desperate Housewives’ trip to Southern Italy & Sicily – Part Two

Posted on October 4, 2011 | 3 Comments

We bade a fond “arrivederci” to Rome and headed south to Sorrento, stopping on the way to take a fascinating walking tour around the excavations of Pompeii. It’s incredible the way the homes and shops – and in some places, even people and animals – of this town were frozen in time by the layers of ash from Vesuvius erupting all those centuries ago.

That afternoon we took an optional excursion to Positano. It was so beautiful – just a 45 minute drive from Sorrento along the Amalfi Coast with many photo stops. We travelled in mini buses as the roads were winding and narrow. The town was very authentic with amazing scenery and old-styled buildings, housing shops selling souvenirs, fruit, shoes deluxe, jewellery and lots more. The winding road lined with shops, restaurants and bars leads down to the beach. Just gorgeous!

Next day was our cruise to the Isle of Capri, which is truly lovely. We took the funicular railway up to the town where we met our local guide who gave a superb history of the area. Then it was off to do what my girlfriends and I do best – shop! Gucci, Chanel, Armani…we were in heaven!

We spent a pleasant evening relaxing in Sorrento, and next day travelled down to the tip of Italy and across the straits of Messina to Sicily for two nights in Taormina.

After a morning walking tour of this pretty resort town, we took the optional excursion to Savoca and the active volcano of Mount Etna. Savoca was high in the hills and it’s an old Medieval village – this is where the movie ‘The Godfather’ was filmed with Al Pacino. We saw memorabilia from the movie and our fabulous local guide told us great and humorous stories of this village, which has one shop, one coffee shop and a bar, all of which are featured in the movie. A highlight for me!

Natalie Farnell
Sales Manager, Trafalgar South Africa

Trafalgar – magnificent views of the Amalfi coast

Trafalgar – magnificent views of the Amalfi coast

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Posted in Sightseeing, Spotlight, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences

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Our ‘Desperate Housewives’ trip to Southern Italy & Sicily – Part One

Posted on September 28, 2011 | 3 Comments

It was in the planning since last Christmas when I conspired with the husbands of three of my best girlfriends to give them this holiday as a Christmas present. The Trafalgar wallet with all the travel documents was wrapped up in paper with a ribbon and placed under the Christmas tree for them.

As you can imagine this caused huge excitement on Christmas Day as no one knew about the surprise except me. All in our late 30s, all married with small kids, this was going to be our ‘Desperate Housewives’ trip to Italy, which after much excited anticipation, began in Rome in June.

Arriving in the Eternal City, we were desperate to experience everything! Of course, we got to see all the highlights: the Sistine Chapel, Vatican museums, St Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Fountain of Trevi… Our wonderful local guide made all the history really entertaining and interesting.

But for me the highlight was ‘getting lost in Rome’ and immersing myself in the cobbled streets, shopping and soaking up the atmosphere (which we were able to do without actually getting lost because our Travel Director gave us great directions).

With a glass of cold wine in hand on a warm summer night with good friends, what could be better!

Natalie Farnell
Sales Manager, Trafalgar South Africa

Trafalgar – savouring the flavours of Rome at a sidewalk café

Trafalgar – savouring the flavours of Rome at a sidewalk café

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A natural phenomenon in Chichen Itza, Mexico

Posted on September 16, 2011 | 2 Comments

Every year in September, hundreds of visitors come together during the autumn equinox at Chichen Itza, Mexico to watch a spectacle of shadow and light on the steps of El Castillo (Kukulkan pyramid). 

Equinox, meaning equal night, is the time of year when the hours of day and night are the same. This only happens once in autumn and again in late March, known as the spring equinox. The iconic Mayan archaeological site of Chichen Itza is the only place in the world where you can see the natural phenomenon come to life.

Late in the afternoon the sun projects triangles of light created by the angle of the sun and the northern edges of the pyramid’s steps. Simulating a snake-like effect, the shadow gradually descends to the jaws of the serpent’s head carved at the base of the pyramid, leaving onlookers awestruck. Ancient Mayan legend believes this is the Kukulkan serpent making his way to the Well of Sacrifice nearby.

This year, the autumn equinox at Chichen Itza officially happens on 22 September but the spectacle can be seen a day or two either side, lasting for around 45 minutes.

Trafalgar’s Treasures of the Yucatan itinerary can take you to visit the ancient city of Chichen Itza in 2012. And you won’t have to worry about fighting the crowds to get in either, as the hotel you’ll stay in is ideally located right next to the ruins and has its own private entrance.

Trafalgar - Chichen Itza, Mexico

Trafalgar - Chichen Itza, Mexico

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Posted in Sightseeing, Spotlight, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences, World Events

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Trafalgar’s Top 5 Travel Gadgets

Posted on September 9, 2011 | 1 Comment

 When taking off on a trip, there’s just some things you can’t leave home without – be it near or far! Here are Trafalgar’s top picks for the must-have travel gadgets:

 External battery: Mophie Juice Pack Air
A practical solution to extend your iPhone’s short battery life! The Mophie Juice Pack Air doubles as a slim case and charger in one, which is perfect if you always need to juice up your phone. www.mophie.com

 Camera: Olympus Pen E-PL2
Capture your most memorable Trafalgar travel moments with this compact yet stylish camera. Shoot quality SLR photos and HD video on its large SLR sized image sensor. Like all PEN cameras, you can easily change lenses to suit your shooting needs. www.getolympus.com

Tablet: Apple iPad2
There’s still only one that leads the way in tablet technology and it’s a lot handier than you think! Track your journey with GPS-enabled maps, translate foreign menus and chat face to face with your family and friends back home. This lighter and thinner version is travel friendly so you don’t have to worry about it taking up too much space. www.apple.com 

E-Reader: Amazon Kindle
Forget about carrying books, this lightweight device can store up to 3,500 books for your travels. Using wireless connectivity, you can shop, download, browse and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs – pretty much anything! It’s ideal for both beach and bedtime reading. www.amazon.com

Adapter: Kensington international travel plug adapter
Charge your phone, camera, iPod and notebook with this useful device. This adapter comes with a USB charger and the correct plugs built in, so you can charge your electronic belongings in over 150 countries. www.kensington.com

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Posted in Spotlight, Trafalgar

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Discover the insider’s view with Jordan Allen

Posted on September 5, 2011 | 1 Comment

I’ve always loved to travel, but what I enjoy more is sharing my passion for travel with others. I’m Jordan Allen and I’ve been a Trafalgar Travel Director for seven years. The best part about my job is seeing guests’ eyes light up when they see something beautiful for the very first time, a truly Kodak moment!

My specialty is national parks, particularly in western USA. From exploring America’s first national park Yellowstone to admiring the vast panoramic views of the Grand Canyon and all the parks in between, you name it I’ve seen them all! If you’re a nature buff like me, you’ll love Trafalgar’s Scenic Parks Explorer which takes you on an insider’s discovery through some of the best national parks in the west including Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Mesa Verde and of course the Grand Canyon.

When I travel you’ll never see me without my camera and a recipe book. Why a recipe book? If you go on a Trafalgar vacation you’ll know why! We often dine with locals during our Be My Guest dining experience and this is where my book comes in handy. I can’t help but jot down cooking tips along the way because not only do you savor regional cuisine, but you also learn a lot too.

My top travel tips are:

  •  Try everything once, you might be pleasantly surprised
  • When shopping, if you see something you like snap it up and don’t think twice as you may not go back the same way, and don’t be afraid to ship it home
  • The best way to get a feel for the local way of life is to walk – you’ll notice more on foot

If you’re interested in discovering the national parks of western USA in 2012 with me or one of our other Travel Directors, visit www.trafalgar.com 

Trafalgar - Travel Director Jordan Allen

Trafalgar - Travel Director Jordan Allen

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Posted in Sightseeing, Spotlight, Trafalgar, Travel Directors

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Vivid colours of Vermont, New England USA

Posted on August 30, 2011 | 2 Comments

If you’re a fan of the outdoors, then you’ll love Vermont in autumn and with the change in season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to see why it’s one of the most beautiful places to visit.

People from all over the world travel to New England (northeastern US near the border of Canada), each year to see the unique bright red and gold foliage cover the meadows and mountains of Vermont. It’s the sugar maple trees that are responsible for the brilliant shades of colour and if pancakes are your weakness take note; these same trees produce the state’s most famous and biggest supply of maple syrup!

A great spot to view the autumn foliage includes Killington Peak in the Green Mountain National Forest, where you can ride the ski gondola to the top – just don’t forget your camera as the view is amazing. If you travel in the last week of September you can follow the Northeast Kingdom Foliage Festival. Each year, this week-long festival travels daily from town to town with locals showcasing a taste of ‘Old Vermont’ to visitors young and old.

Trafalgar’s Autumn Colours itinerary, which travels through the northeastern US, can take you to see this natural spectacle of colour in 2012.

Trafalgar - Autumn colours of USA

Trafalgar - Autumn colours of USA

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My family trip to Italy – part two

Posted on August 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

Florence was next on our trip and on the way we stopped at Assisi for a tour of the town. By this stage, Savanah had found a partner in crime, two new friends in fact and they were inseparable for the whole trip. The girls loved having their photos taken next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We saw the Duomo (Cathedral of Florence) and Michelangelo’s original statue of David, and as Florence is famous for all things leather we couldn’t help but stop for a shop at Peruzzi.

Our last night in Florence was a real treat with a special Be My Guest dinner at Villa Le Leccio – a 15th century family villa in the Chianti region of Tuscany. We had a personal tour and learned about its history and Nazi occupation in WWI, before enjoying dinner. Mamma mia – the food was so good!

We continued to make our way through the Italian countryside to the home of spaghetti bolognese – Bologna of course, before heading to beautiful Venice where we spent the rest of our trip. We learned all about Venetian Carnival masks and the kids were even given their own mask to decorate and keep. We all loved our visit to Burrano – a lagoon island in Venice known for its brightly painted homes and lacemaking.

We all agreed this was by far the best family trip we’ve been on. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, our Travel Director was always helpful and the kids had a ball with all the hands-on activities. We met some great people and Savanah has promised to keep in touch with all her new friends. Who knows, we may bump into them again on our next Family Experiences vacation.

Ciao!

Doug Patterson
President, Trafalgar Canada

Trafalgar - the beautiful view of the villa pool

Trafalgar - the beautiful view of the villa pool

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My family trip to Italy – Part One

Posted on August 23, 2011 | 1 Comment

I won’t deny it. Going on a family trip can be stressful. It usually involves heaps of planning to find the best family-friendly places to stay and you’re always looking for ways to keep the kids entertained… So, I was surprised how easy it can be on a Trafalgar Family Experiences vacation.

I just got back from a Gladiators, Gondolas and Gold Italy itinerary with my lovely wife Lori and eight-year-old daughter Savanah. From the moment we stepped off the plane everything was arranged so we didn’t have to worry about anything. Our first stop was Rome, and being the middle of summer we were relieved to see the huge pool at our hotel. After a smooth check-in it was off to sneak in some sightseeing before meeting our Travel Director and the other families.

We spent three days in Rome and one of my highlights was visiting the Colosseum. I’ve always seen pictures of it but to finally be standing there in the flesh was amazing. Our Local Guide was brilliant – she was so patient answering all our questions and definitely taught us a thing or two.  My daughter loved learning to make pizza with the other kids at a local family-run restaurant and then tasting her hard work. What surprised us was seeing the old archeological dig behind the restaurant that dates back to the time of Julius Caesar. Now that’s something we never would have found on our own!

Doug Patterson
President, Trafalgar Canada

Trafalgar - Doug Patterson at the Colosseum, Rome

Trafalgar - Doug Patterson at the Colosseum, Rome

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The streets of Lyon

Posted on August 11, 2011 | 2 Comments

It was a cloudy start to the day but by the time we reached Lyon the sun was out again and we all jumped off the coach to meet our Local Guide Maree-Claire. She took us on a walking tour of Basilica Notre Dame which sits above ancient Roman ruins on Fourvière hill. Maree-Claire told us that no matter where you go in Lyon it’s likely you’ll be able to spot the basilica, which explains why it’s the symbol of the city.

We were also treated to another Hidden Treasure. Marie our Travel Director showed us the way along the ancient streets of old town Lyon. Centuries ago, these small streets were hidden alley ways that veered off the main drag to connect the locals. We would’ve never found this on our own and we have Marie to thank for. She even knew the code for a secret door, but I’ll keep that one a mystery!

Matt Cameron-Smith
Managing Director, Trafalgar Australia

Trafalgar Tour Director Marie on tour

Trafalgar Tour Director Marie on tour

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Posted in Spotlight, Travel Directors, Travel News, Trip Experiences

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