Washington D.C. for families: Beyond the headliners with Luisa

Posted on April 3, 2012 | 1 Comment

I know it’s rare to have your child suggest visiting historic cities, but that’s what got us to Washington D.C. My daughter Alex was a huge American Girl doll fan and thus at a young age grew an affinity to early American history.

When Alex was 10 years old, we visited the top presidential monuments in the city of Washington. From famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Capitol and the White House – we saw them all. And so can you on Trafalgar’s Trails of Liberty Family Experiences trip!

After you’ve seen all the headliners with Trafalgar you’ll enjoy some free time to explore D.C. further with your family. Not every child or teenager possesses Alex’s passion about history, so here are my top picks for what to do. While still historically oriented, they are interactive and will hold most family members’ interest.

1. International Spy Museum
Perfect for teens and is quite atypical of most museums. The interactive experiences here are not to be missed: Spy in the City is a GPS-based espionage and includes walking outside in a one mile radius; and Operation Spy provides plenty of opportunities to try your hand at cracking safes and decoding secret messages.

2. National Air and Space Museum
Three, two, one…blast off! My son was just a toddler when we first went to this unique museum. He was so into viewing the space ship and early modes of flight that we had to drag him out of there.

3. National Museum of American History
“Click your heels and repeat after me: There’s no place like home!” If anyone in your family is a Wizard of Oz buff like I am, then this museum is a must. On display are Dorothy’s original ruby slippers used in the film and there are other cool historic artefacts to see, such as Lincoln’s top hat.

4. Museum of Natural History
While this museum’s massive dinosaurs are one of its most popular exhibits, don’t miss the Sant Ocean Hall – an interactive exhibit that explores ocean life and what lies beneath.

5. National Zoo
The National Zoo is synonymous with giant pandas. After you see the star celebs, head to the Kids’ Farm where younger children can interact with gentle animals.

By Luisa Frey

Luisa, an accomplished travel writer is a regular contributor to www.trafalgarblog.com

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC, USA

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

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Posted in Travel News

Elise’s Greek Island Adventure – Part Two

Posted on March 27, 2012 | 1 Comment

Our Greek Island Hopper Trafalgar trip continued with three nights in Santorini.

We opted for a full day island tour with a local guide, visiting two charming towns where we purchased some fresh little tomatoes from a street vendor – delicious! We saw pistachio trees, olive trees and vineyards and later took to the iconic Black Beach and Red Beach. After a swim and lunch we visited SantoWines, a local winery which was very interesting. We enjoyed a guided tour and even got to taste their famous white and dessert wines.

That night, our Travel Director Filippos, invited the group to join him at a local restaurant. We all went and had a wonderful dinner in the centre of Fira. Afterwards, we visited a local bar where we relaxed with a few drinks on the balcony. I enjoyed that Filippos sat and mingled with us on occasions like these.

Another full free day on Santorini, so we took part in the optional Volcano and Caldera Cruise. This turned out to be quite an adventure with a few unexpected challenges, but my boyfriend really enjoyed it. It was actually his best day on the trip! We took what looked like a pirate ship to the island of Nea Kameni, an active volcano in the Santorini archipelago. It’s a big mountain covered in craters and black rocks, and the climb up it is tough so be sure to wear running shoes. We decided to go all the way to the top – exhausting but worth it. The view is amazing.

In the evening, a private coach took us to the beautiful town of Oia for dinner, where we enjoyed a lovely meal at a terrace restaurant. For dessert, Filippos kindly bought us a box filled with traditional Greek desserts, which we shared. Afterwards, we walked around town and stopped to view the famous Oia sunset.

Bidding farewell to Santorini, we boarded the ferry to Athens and again we were upgraded to VIP. Being our last night in Greece, everyone decided to have dinner together at a traditional Greek taverna in the Plaka. This was the best dinner of them all – a real taste of Greek culture. The food was fabulous! Two musicians played and sang the whole time, which was extremely charming. And a group of dancers also did a few entertaining numbers. Opa!

Overall, this was an amazing trip. The pace was slower than our last Trafalgar trip but we still got to see and do a lot of activities. I recommend it to those who want to experience the Greek Islands instead of just visiting them for a few hours on a cruise.

Elise from Ontario, Canada

To read Elise’s full Greek Island Hopper travel tale, visit the Trafalgar Community Forums here.

Red Beach, Santorini

Red Beach, Santorini

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a view! Elise and her partner in Santorini

What a view! Elise and her partner in Santorini


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Posted in Sightseeing, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences

Elise’s Greek Island Adventure – Part One

Posted on March 20, 2012 | 1 Comment

This was the second time my boyfriend and I decided to travel with Trafalgar and we couldn’t wait to start our 10 Day Greek Island Hopper adventure through Athens, Mykonos and Santorini!

On our first morning in Athens, we visited the Acropolis and Parthenon with a Local Guide followed by the Olympic Stadium and Temple of Zeus. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water because it does get hot! Filippos, our Travel Director invited us to accompany him on a walking tour of the Plaka later in the afternoon. He showed us the main streets, pointed out shops and landmarks and gave us a great tip on a café to have lunch.

The optional dinner in Psiri was excellent with lots of traditional Greek dishes to share with everyone at the table: Greek salad, fried zucchini balls, dill bread, a variety of meats and more.

An early start next morning and we were off to Mykonos by high-speed ferry. Lucky for us, we were upgraded to business class! The hotel was also upgraded to Saint John Resort – the most amazing resort I have ever seen. We saw so much on our walking tour of Chora (the main town), which was a big help when we went back on our own later.

Breakfast at the resort was excellent with a wide assortment of fruits, pastries, breads, meats, eggs, crepes and even freshly squeezed orange juice. With the next day to ourselves, we took the optional half-day trip to Delos – an uninhabited island that is an important archaeological site and according to legend, the birthplace of Apollo. We saw the main parts of the site and visited the museum. The island itself has no shade, so make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.

Back in Mykonos, we tried gyros (pronounced yee-ros) at a restaurant called Snack Bar Fanis which Filippos recommended. Filled with chicken, tomatoes, onions and tzatziki sauce wrapped in fresh pita bread – they were amazing!

That night, Filippos suggested we join him at a local restaurant in Little Venice called Venezia. The restaurant is by the water and we got to see an amazing sunset. My boyfriend and I shared fried zucchini, Greek salad and cod – all delicious.

For our last day on Mykonos we opted to sleep in and then enjoyed the hotel’s private beach. If you’re lucky enough to have a private beach at your hotel, enjoy it! But, if you do want to explore the public beaches, the list in your Trafalgar welcome package explains how to get to them and what kind of beach they are. Be warned – some of them are nude!

By Elise from Ontario, Canada

Elise and her partner at the Acropolis, Athens.

Elise and her partner at the Acropolis, Athens.


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Posted in Trafalgar, Travel Directors, Trip Experiences

Lois Anita’s royal WOW moment

Posted on March 13, 2012 | 1 Comment

To celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, my husband and I chose our dream trip with Trafalgar, where for 20 glorious days we explored the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

While in Limerick, Ireland I asked Dan, our Travel Director if I should dress up that evening for the Renaissance Banquet.  He said, in his beautiful British accent, “Yes Anita, put on your feathers tonight!”

As we entered Bunratty Castle, we were pulled out of line and escorted directly to the banquet room while everyone else took to the stairwell.  I thought it was just a courtesy because of my walking cane.  We were totally shocked to be led to two thrones where we were given crowns and told we would be Lord and Lady for the evening – by the order of Barnaby Lord of Thurmond.

For days thereafter our fellow travel companions called us “Your Majesty” and bowed in our direction.  I even knighted one noble friend with my cane while others cheered!

After we returned home, a friend of mine painted Bunratty Castle for me in oils as an anniversary gift to remember our unforgettable experience.  Along with the certificate we received, it occupies a place of pride in our living room. As I recall the event, I still wonder if Dan, our Travel Director had a hand in us being selected, for what became such a memorable occasion in our lives.

Lois Anita Curtis from Tennessee, USA.

Bunratty Castle – Limerick, Ireland

Bunratty Castle – Limerick, Ireland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lois Anita and her husband sitting on the throne

Lois Anita and her husband sitting on the throne

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Posted in Sightseeing, Trafalgar, Trip Experiences

Glenna’s Scenic Journey through Switzerland: Part Two

Posted on March 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Today we set forth through the Rhone Valley towards Lake Geneva to Evian (Evian-Les-Bains or ‘water of life’) and along the way we stopped to take photos of the 9th century Castle of Chillon.

The drive along Lake Geneva is spectacular and our next stop was Geneva, a very beautiful and rich city. I’m sure that everyone living here has a Rolex watch! Geneva is also one of the most fertile areas of Switzerland. We drove past the monumental Broken Chair located near the Palace of Nations. It is constructed of 5.5 tonnes of wood and is 12 metres (39 feet) high. It symbolises opposition to land mines and is an amazing monument to see. We were dropped off in the park area beside the Jet d’Eau fountain, a truly awesome sight. This fountain shoots water 145 metres into the air, approximately 500 litres of water per second, mind boggling!

The final two days of our trip was spent in Lucerne and that morning we could see fresh snow on the mountain tops. Lucerne has to be one of my favourite cities of this trip, if not the best! The streets of old town Lucerne are very quaint and possess a lot of charm and I went a little photo-crazy. I spent the better part of my free time shopping – no one can say I’m not a die-hard shopper! I didn’t know Victorinox is the original Swiss Army knife. Victorinox took Wenger knives under their umbrella and the red Swiss Army knives are made by them. The red, blue and black clear plastic knives and the white Victorinox knife can only be purchased in Switzerland. I bought one of each and had them engraved on the back, a nice touch. I also purchased some Swarovski pieces for my collection and lots and lots of chocolate made it back to my hotel room. I can truly say the shopaholic in me was satisfied!

Our Farewell Dinner was at a lovely restaurant in old town Lucerne. It included a salad buffet, followed by my choice of chicken, while the others had the mouth-watering veal in pastry dish. Apple strudel plated with flourishing touches of crème freche and raspberry coulis topped off the meal, as did the included two drinks of our choice. At the end of the night, our Travel Director surprised everyone who had previously been on a Trafalgar trip with a thank you card and a box of Swiss chocolates from Gavin Tollman, Trafalgar CEO.

After lingering over coffee, reminiscing and making promises of staying in touch, the time quickly arrived for our transfer to Zurich airport… And I still had shopping to do there!!

Glenna – Vancouver Island, Canada

To read Glenna’s full Best of Switzerland travel tale, visit the Trafalgar Online Forum here.

Broken Chair in Geneva, Switzerland

Broken Chair in Geneva, Switzerland


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Posted in Hidden Treasures, Sightseeing, Trip Experiences

Glenna’s Scenic Journey through Switzerland: Part One

Posted on February 28, 2012 | 4 Comments

After arriving in Zurich one day early with some much needed shopping already under my belt, I was set (with great anticipation) to start my Best of Switzerland Trafalgar trip.

My group of around 45 was made up of Americans, Australians, South Africans, a U.S couple living in Saudi Arabia and me, one Canadian! Our first compass point was Liechtenstein via Klosters and up Fluella Pass – a wonderful scenic drive with some “close your eyes” turns. Our Austrian driver Michael, was absolutely amazing and a real pro behind the wheel. He did things with that bus… I’ll say no more!

That afternoon we took the Bernina Express where we passed more breathtaking scenery and stopped at a local café to enjoy local wine and hors d’oeuvres. Then it was off to St Moritz for the night. We had an excellent buffet dinner at the hotel which consisted of beef au jus, chicken dishes, pasta, carved baby pork, many vegetables, desserts and breads… A truly amazing buffet!

I woke up the following morning to another glorious day. Today we were going to Lake Maggiore, which included a shopping trip in Stresa. Once again it was ‘hold your breath’ scenery as we ascended the Julier Pass and then along the route to Bellinzona in the Italian speaking region of Ticino. Ticino is also one of the premier wine making regions of Switzerland, due to its Mediterranean climate. I tried some Ticino wine and I can tell you, it was yummy! The lake drive through to Stresa very much reminded me of the Italian Riviera. It was a highlight for me, extremely beautiful. That night we were meant to be staying at the Simplon Hotel in Baveno, but we were upgraded to the Grand Hotel Bristol and it was very luxurious.

Our Be My Guest dinner on Iso Madre, one of the Borromean Islands was spectacular. Because I’m not a fan of seafood or veal, I had the most delicious asparagus pasta ever made. The whole meal from start to finish – wine included, was truly a treat.

There was excitement on our coach on Day 4 as we headed to Zermatt and the Matterhorn. On arrival in Tasch, we were transported to Zermatt in electric mini-buses as only essential service vehicles are allowed here. Our luggage and carry-ons were transported to the Albana Real hotel while we went straight to the gondolas for the trip up to Klein Matterhorn – 14,400 breathtaking feet high. The Klein Matterhorn and the Matterhorn stand almost side by side. What a majestic mountain! While you’re here, you can descend to an ice glacier which a few people from our group did.

In the evening we had a fondue dinner at the hotel. I was anticipating a cheese fondue but it was much more sophisticated in that each table had a tray with thinly sliced pork, beef and chicken. We were also served saffron rice, vegetables, salad and fruit. One word – delicious!

Glenna – Vancouver Island, Canada

Glenna with Trafalgar in Zermatt, Switzerland

Glenna with Trafalgar in Zermatt, Switzerland

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

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Claire’s Golden West US Discovery

Posted on February 21, 2012 | 1 Comment

Last year I visited the US for the very first time on Trafalgar’s Golden West Contrasts trip through Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.

Nothing can prepare you for the decadence and excess of Vegas. The whole time I was there, I couldn’t believe my eyes. From the stunning Bellagio fountains which ‘dance’ to famous tunes, to the erupting volcano at the Mirage – the enormity of everything is unbelievable. I’ll never forget the night our Travel Director Todd, surprised us with a visit to Graceland Wedding Chapel and staged a mock wedding with two members of our group. And yes Elvis was there! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much!

Our French inspired Highlight Dinner at Paris Las Vegas consisted of crepes, cheese and champagne (my top choices) with an endless array of dishes – there was so much variety that most of us struggled to sample half of what was on the menu. For a moment, you actually think you’re outdoors in Paris. From the painted sky on the ceilings to the cobbled streets and authentic French signs – the theming and detail is amazing.

Another great place Todd took us to for dinner was a lively Mexican restaurant in Old Town San Diego. The salsa and guacamole dip, burritos, salads and crème caramel for dessert were all nicely complemented with authentic margaritas the size of fish bowls! And who could forget the Mexican Mariachis who took time out to serenade us.

One of my highlights from this trip was without a doubt a visit to the Grand Canyon by helicopter. It’s a once in a lifetime experience that I recommend everyone should do. It’s not until you get there that you can really appreciate the sheer size of it all. I also really enjoyed our visit to Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Being a huge movie buff – it really doesn’t get any better than this and being there really did bring out the inner child in me.

Todd our Travel Director was superb and he was a huge part of what made this trip so fantastic. I definitely can’t wait to plan my next trip to the US – east coast here I come!

By Claire Garrety from Australia

Claire Garrety at the Bellagio – Las Vegas

Claire Garrety at the Bellagio – Las Vegas

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