Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera

1 Comment / February 10, 2011

The Cinque Terre Hike

The Cinque Terre is one of those destinations that everyone should try to visit some time in their lives and the eight mile Cinque Terre hike is an absolute must for anyone who is fit and able to walk. The Cinque Terre (pronounced Cheeng-Kway Tear-ray; tear as in to cut, not as in tear from the eye; and be sure to roll the r’s) means five lands and is a collection of five hillside villages located on the rugged Ligurian Coast of Italy or the Italian Riviera. The village of Vernazza, in particular, you will immediately recognize from travel photos you have seen many times in the past. From north to south the villages are Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

Start at Monterosso

I caught the train at 8 AM in Genoa to the north and from that point on everything went like clockwork, making this one of the most enjoyable days of my trip. We stopped at little towns all along the way picking up more people at each stop until the train was standing room only. It was pretty obvious where everyone was heading, since most had shorts, hiking shoes and day packs. I met people from all over the world on the short train ride and we all chatted excitedly about our plans for the day. Some, like me, were going to get off at Monterosso, the northern most village, and hike south. Others were going to stay on the train until they got to the southern most village of Riomaggiore and hike north. Later that day along the trail I would pass some of these same people going the opposite way and we would all call out a cheerful greeting as we recognized one another from the train.

Best Hike Ever!

The train arrived in Monterosso at 10:30 AM and I was immediately able to find a nice hotel, aptly named Hotel Cinque Terre, which I will feature in the next article on Awesome Accommodations. By 11:30 AM I was on the trail enjoying the spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea as I hiked through the terraced hillsides of vineyards and olive orchards between each of the five villages. The weather could not have been nicer and I was glad I had come prepared with good hiking shoes and plenty of water. The eight mile hike took me four hours and I got back on the train at the fifth village of Riomaggiore heading back to Monterosso by 3:30 PM. Be sure to check out the video of the Cinque Terre Hike below!

Take the Train Back

If you only have the time or energy to do one portion of the hike, I recommend the section between Monterosso and Vernazza. It is the most difficult stretch, but I believe the most beautiful and Vernazza is one place you would not want to miss. The train stops near each of the five villages so even non-hikers can enjoy these quaint little towns. The train system makes it extremely handy in that you need only do the hike in one direction and can then take the train back to your starting point. After returning to Monterosso I enjoyed the evening exploring this beautiful area in more detail and had a nice dinner at a sidewalk café. Looking south as the sun went down I could see the lights of the other villages I had visited earlier in the day twinkling off in the distance.

Don’t Miss This Video of the Cinque Terre Hike!

A Photo Gallery of the Cinque Terre


Vernazza
Vernazza
Corniglia
Manarola
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore
Monterosso
Monterosso
Monterosso

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Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

1 Comment / January 31, 2011

Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

It was by pure luck that I found this outstanding hotel in Marseille! When traveling by train, I usually try the hotels near the station, making it easy to catch the early train the following morning. More times than not, I find something available at a reasonable rate, but not this time. After checking several hotels near the station and not finding any that met my standards for one reason or another, I decided to look farther into town.

Location, Location Location

I took a wrong turn, though, and ended up down by the seaport docks in a ‘not so good’ part of the city and it was about 6 PM by this time! Quickly retracing my steps, I was soon heading down into the heart of Marseille. The first hotel I checked was the Hotel Hermes and they had a nice room with private bath for the equivalent of $70.00 (Fifty Euros). Breakfast was a little extra, but well worth it. The Hotel Hermes is right on the Vieux-Port, the main harbor of Marseille, and had a view across to Notre Dame de la Garde on the hill across the water. The location could not have been better and it was within walking distance of most of the main sights.

An Awesome Accommodation

The staff at the Hotel Hermes was friendly and helpful and I was able to use their computer to get on the internet and check my email at no additional charge. There was a terrace on the rooftop which looked out over the entire area and I ended my day enjoying the breathtaking nighttime view from that vantage point. If you are looking for a nice, reasonably priced hotel in Marseille with an excellent location, I recommend checking out the Hotel Hermes.

My Room at the Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

Dining Room at the Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

http://www.hotelmarseille.com

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Gateway Cities

3 Comments / December 14, 2010

Gateway Cities

A gateway city is one that has a major transportation hub, including a busy international airport. Airfares to and from gateway cities are often less expensive than fares for smaller cities, based on increased traffic and availability of flights. Some of the major gateway cities in Europe include Frankfurt, Germany; Paris, France; London, England; and Amsterdam, The Netherlands. In China, Beijing and Shanghai are two of the main gateway cities. Some gateway cities have more than one airport such as London and Paris.

Choosing a Gateway City

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a gateway city, but, of course, the main ones are proximity to your destination, availability of flights and cost of available flights. Beyond that, the most important consideration is availability of convenient transfer to land transportation. For example, Frankfurt is my favorite gateway city in Europe because the train stops at a station right under the airport!

Round Trip or Multi-city Ticket?

Most of the time it will be cheaper to fly in and out of the same gateway city with a round trip ticket, but this is not always the case. It may be cheaper to fly in and out of different cities with a ‘multi-city ticket’ rather than to retrace your steps to return to your original point of entry. I discovered this on my recent trip to China where I flew into Beijing and out of Shanghai. The additional cost was minimal compared to the cost and lost time that would have been incurred if I had returned to Beijing to fly home.

Additional Considerations

Several additional points should be considered when choosing a gateway city. It is an added feature for your trip if the gateway city is an interesting destination in itself. When this is the case, you can spend several days at the beginning and again at the end of your trip exploring this city at a more leisurely pace. It is an extra bonus if the city you depart from is also a good place to shop. I frequently save most of my shopping until the last two days, so that I don’t have to carry my purchases around with me during the rest of the trip.

Pudong Airport Terminal, Shanghai, China

Searching for Your Gateway City

To secure a plane ticket I recommend starting several months ahead by doing a comparison search on the Kayak website. Kayak searches most of the major airlines and other travel search engine sites and rapidly displays the results starting with the least expensive. If you select a flight on Kayak, they may refer you to another website such as Expedia or Orbitz to make the actual purchase. I have purchased tickets through both Expedia and Orbitz and can recommend them without hesitation.

It is important to try several gateway cities in the vicinity and try flight dates on different days of the week. Some travel experts say that Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and sometimes Saturday are the cheapest days to fly, while Friday and Sunday are the most expensive. When looking for a flight on Kayak, try doing your search on different days and at different times of the day and night. Some say there are certain days of the week and times of the day to search if you want the cheapest ticket, but I have not necessarily found this to be the case.

After you have done a number of searches you will have an idea what the range of fares is likely to be. Once you are certain that you want to take the trip, have your credit card ready. Sometimes when you least expect it a fantastic deal will pop up and you will want to lock it in while you can. The next time you check it may not be there.

Using this method in the past few years I have gotten a nonstop round trip fare to Frankfurt for $500.00 on one occasion and for $750.00 on another. Sometimes there are just no bargains, however. This year when I went to China I paid almost $1100.00, but I really wanted to go and it turned out to be well worth it! Just for fun, why not give Kayak a try right now (http://www.kayak.com). Just enter your dream destination and available dates and see what turns up. Good Luck and Happy Searching!

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The Eurail Pass

1 Comment / December 5, 2010

Eurail Passes

A Eurail Pass can be your ’ticket to Europe’ if you know how and when to use them. They can only be purchased ahead of time in your home country and they are fairly expensive. I have found the 15 day pass to be the most useful and have covered most of Europe over the years by using this particular pass on five different trips. Once your pass is activated on the first day you plan to use it…the clock starts ticking. If you are prepared to get up early every day to be on the first train in the morning heading for the next city on your itinerary, you will get more than your money’s worth out of the pass.

What’s the Cost?

Your pass entitles you to first class accommodations on the train (adult pass) and if two or more are traveling together, there is a discount. A check of the latest fees (December 2010) indicates that a Youth Pass for those 25 years of age and under is $469.00 for 2^nd Class Travel. Adults 26 years of age and over can only purchase a First Class ticket, which is $719.00 for one person or $609.00 for two or more traveling together.

Things to Consider

Once in hand, the ticket is a valuable commodity and can be lost or stolen. For a small fee of around $12.00 you can purchase replacement insurance for your ticket, which I recommend. Since I first began using Eurail passes, I have noticed an increasing requirement to make a reservation the day before each leg of the trip and also to pay either a reservation fee or a supplement, all of which tend to defeat the purpose of the pass. Some countries are more apt to require these than others. During my first trips with the Eurail Pass I needed only to get on the train and show my pass, enabling me to skip the long lines at the train stations and the language barrier at the ticket window. It was also easier then to get on and off the train several times during the day in order to visit more sights. The requirement for reservations and supplements negates these conveniences.

Watching the German Countryside Go by from the Train

Should I Get a Eurail Pass?

The Eurail pass is now valid in 21 countries, but, unfortunately, some of the most interesting countries in Eastern Europe, like one of my favorites…Poland, are not included. Hungary and Romania are now included and hopefully more will be added in the future. It would not be cost effective to visit a country that is not included in the pass in the middle of your 15 day pass period, as the Eurail Pass would be running concurrently and you would be wasting days. Therefore, careful planning ahead of time is necessary. Once you have a rough itinerary planned, check the internet for the point to point ticket costs and see how they compare to the cost of the Eurail pass. You may find that it would be cheaper to purchase point to point tickets. In summary, the Eurail pass is ideal for first time travelers to Europe who want to see a lot in a short time, but may not be the best idea for leisurely travelers with only a few planned stops on their itinerary.

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Travel Insurance

November 16, 2010

Travel Insurance…An Important Consideration

For the first time in all my years of wandering the world, I purchased travel insurance for my trip to China last summer. Unsure of the medical care that would be available in some of the out of the way places that I planned to visit, it seemed prudent to have coverage in case of the unexpected. While there are a number of different types of travel insurance which can be purchased in combinations or separately depending on your needs, there are three basic types that should be considered before a trip. First there is trip cancellation insurance which might be wise depending on the upfront cost of your trip, particularly for older travelers. Since the only upfront investment for my trip was the plane fare, I decided I did not need this. The second type is health care or medical insurance. It is important to check with your health insurance provider in your home country to see if you are covered while traveling overseas. If not, it is wise to purchase supplemental coverage while traveling. Fortunately, my insurer does cover me wherever I travel, so I decided I also did not need this. The third type of travel insurance is coverage for medical evacuation, and this I decided I should have.

A Worthwhile Expenditure

I was surprised to learn how reasonable medical evacuation coverage was considering the staggering costs if one had to pay for it out of pocket…we’re talking thousands and thousands of dollars! The cost of medical evacuation insurance is based on your age and where you are going and I was able to purchase coverage from FrontierMEDEX for a few dollars a day. Thankfully, I didn’t need to use it, but it was reassuring to know that while I was out in the hinterlands of China they would have brought me back dead or alive. Travel insurance is an important consideration for anyone venturing out of the country and, as I found out, it is easy and economical to tailor a policy specifically suited to your individual needs.

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The Bund and Pudong

November 9, 2010

The Bund and Pudong

A spectacular view of the Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River awaits you as you reach the east end of East Nanjing Road and emerge onto the Bund in Shanghai, China. The Bund is actually an elevated promenade that runs north-south along the western side of the river following East Zhongshan No 1 Road for nearly a mile. According to the Lonely Planet travel guide of China, The Bund is ‘an Anglo-Indian term for the embankment of a muddy waterfront’. This boulevard was the financial center of Old Shanghai and is now lined with historic buildings representing various periods of Chinese history. All day and late into the evening crowds of locals and tourists stroll together along this famous walkway, taking in the stately buildings on one side and a view of the modern skyscrapers across the river on the other. I found myself going back many times to bask in this sensory overload and almost enjoyed watching others take in the ethereal atmosphere as much as I enjoyed experiencing it myself. At night colorfully lighted boats ply the waters between the two crowded banks of the river, adding to the spectacle.

The Bund and Pudong Skyline

China Pavilion, Expo 2010

On my second day in Shanghai I found the ferry boat going across the river to Pudong, albeit with some difficulty. Pudong is home to the Shanghai Exposition, the airport and some of the world’s tallest and most famous buildings. The most notable among them are the Oriental Pearl Tower with its stacked globes, the Jinmao Tower with its observation deck on the 88^th floor and the Shanghai World Financial Center, reputed to be the world’s third tallest building. Just standing at the feet of these behemoths is awe inspiring. A short bus ride will take you to the site of the Shanghai Expo 2010, which officially closed on October 31. This huge exposition, which drew thousands of people from all over the world, covers many blocks and the trademark China Pavilion is destined to become a lasting symbol of Shanghai.

Ferry Across the Huangpu River

On the ferry ride back across the river to the Bund I realized that my three weeks in China was rapidly drawing to a close and it was finally time to start thinking about getting to the airport the next day for the long flight home. I was actually looking forward to the flight on Korean Air, which in my opinion is one of the best airlines in the world. Not only is the service superb, but it is difficult to take your eyes off the gorgeous ladies who serve as flight attendants. Looking back on my trip, I covered a tremendous amount of territory in those three weeks, visiting some of the most famous sights in China and meeting a good cross section of its friendly people. And all this without spending a lot of money! China is a big country, though, and I still have lots more to see on my next trip!

TRAVEL TIP:

Going between the Pudong Airport and most parts of Shanghai is easy using the high speed Maglev (magnetic levitation) Train which has a station in Pudong connecting with the metro. A one way ticket on the high speed train should cost about $7.00 and the connecting metro ticket is less than one US dollar. This is quick, convenient and considerably cheaper than a taxi and gives you an opportunity to ride on one of the world’s fastest trains at 250 miles per hour.

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Travel Tips

Cinque Terre on the Italian Riviera

The Cinque Terre Hike

Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

Hotel Hermes, Marseille, France

An Awesome Accommodation

Gateway Cities

Gateway Cities

Round Trip or Multi-city Ticket?

The Eurail Pass

Eurail Passes

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance…An Important Consideration

The Bund and Pudong

The Bund and Pudong

China Pavilion, Expo 2010