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In
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Combined with a great Aussie/USD exchange rate...it's cheaper than staying at home!! Consider taking a 4 berth motorhome from Orlando to Los Angeles, including 3000 free miles, all taxes, VIP travel insurance and no one way fee and pay just USD$12.00 per day !! Many other combinations.... See www.usandcanadatravel.com for more details. MOTORHOMES UK - Last minute offer....15% discount for travel in March and April 05 Help us fill last minute availability. Travel in March and April 2005 and get a whopping 15% discount on the daily rental rate. Valid for new bookings only. Back to Top / Index SCENIC RAIL TRIPS: The Glacier Express in Switzerland: This famous scenic train travels through miles of breathtakingly unspoiled nature, fragrant alpine forests, past towering glaciers and tranquil pastures. Your journey will take you through 91 tunnels, over 291 bridges and the 2033m high Oberlap pass! This is an experience not to be missed. The Glacier-Express runs daily in Summer and Winter season and offers 1st and 2nd class coaches, panoramic coaches and dining car. The Wilhelm Tell Express: It links German-speaking Central Switzerland with Italian-speaking Ticino. The tour starts from Luzern, boarding a nostalgic paddle steamer for a 3-hour cruise on Lake Luzern enjoying a gourmet meal in the first class restaurant. At Fluelen, passengers board air-conditioned first class panoramic coaches (2nd class also available) to travel through the steep ravines and precipitous cliffs of the Reuss Valley, passing the 15 km long historic Gotthard railway tunnel, Europe's most important north/south gateway. On the south side, many breath-taking bridges are crossed, passing by charming villages down the valley towards Lugano or Locarno. The Arlberg and Semmering Line in Austria: Operating since 1884. The Arlberg line connects Tyrol with Vorarlberg. Numerous bridges, viaducts and tunnels mark the romantic railway line stretching from Landeck via 1217m or 3993 feet above sea level to Vorarlberg. The Arlberg is one of the steepest railway lines on which there is a regular passenger and goods traffic. The Semmering Railway is the world's first railway on the World Heritage List. Part of the justification read: "The Semmering Railway represents an outstanding technological solution to a major physical problem in the construction of early railways" as well as "With the construction of the Semmering Railway, areas of great natural beauty became more easily accessible, thus creating a new form of cultural landscape". You can see details on www.oebb.at and click on the English link. The Flam Railway in Norway: Another engineering masterpiece. 80% of the Flam railway has a gradient of 55. At the same time, there are 20 tunnels with a total length of 6km, evidence of the most daring and skilful engineering feats in the history of Norwegian Railways. Some of the tunnels are constructed as loops that wind in and out of the mountains. In order to ensure safety on this unusual stretch of track, all carriages are equipped with five different braks, each of which can stop the whole train!. Starting from the mountain station at Myrdal, your journey takes you to the longest and deepest fjord in Europe, the Sognefjorden. The train makes a photo stop at Kjosfossen waterfall. See www.flaamsbana.no for more details. The Rocky Mountaineer in Canada: From mid-April to mid-October (with select December departures) the Rocky Mountaineer travels between the coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia, and the Rocky Mountain destinations of Jasper, Banff and Calgary, Alberta. The rich, vast, and unspoiled nature of Canada's National Parks is a draw for millions of tourists every year. The train travels through five of these protected areas: Mount Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, and the oldest and the largest of the Rockies parks, Banff and Jasper. Three provincial parks combined with the four National Parks located in the Rockies, comprise the UNESCO Rocky Mountain World Heritage Site, which ranks as one of the largest protected areas on the planet. Along the Rocky Mountaineer train route, guests can see many of the 69 large mammal species for which this area is known. Black and grizzly bears, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, cougar, wolves, lynx and caribou are some of the many species that rely on the large tracts of protected land to survive. In Alberta , the Rocky Mountaineer travels to the mountain resorts of Jasper and Banff where nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts' dreams come true. Located between Jasper and Banff , a visit to the emerald waters of Lake Louise is a must on any itinerary, and getting there is half the joy when travelling from Jasper on the 230 km (143 mi) Icefields Parkway highway past countless lakes and over 100 glaciers. The Coast Starlight in USA: The celebrated hotel on wheels follows much of the historic El Camino Real as well as hanging on to ocean cliffs over its two night journey between Los Angeles and Seattle. You pass places like Santa Barbara, beautiful beaches, Puget Sound and Columbia River Gorge. Thank goodness for the viewing lounge where the windows wrap round into the roof...swivel chairs and the little wooden ledge so your drink does not slip... This magnificent train has the renowned Pacific parlour Car which comes complete with library and cinema and a special car to keep kids entertained...perhaps whilst mum and dad enjoy a spot of wine tasting until the magnificent view of a Pacific coastline sunset. You can experience the Coast Starlight on your Amtrak Pass or your California Pass. With the California pass, when travelling on the Coast Starlight, travel to from outside California will require a separate fare... Ask us about any of these great rail trips... we'll be happy to book it for you. Back to Top / Index
See http://www.ukandeuropetravel.com/carlease.shtml for details. With car rental we have some fantastic deals. We even have upgrade specials on automatic cars ....In the UK our cars start from just $38 per day. Talking about British car rental...do you fancy a spin in an MG TF Convertible? With a minimum rental period of just 1 day....why not splash out and treat yourself or someone special !! In the USA and Canada we have some great Upgrade deals... Car leasing - Hot off the press - Right hand drive lease vehicles now available in the UK Just announced - For those who wish to lease a tax free car starting in UK, the cars have always previously been left hand drive. Now Peugeot have brought out Right hand drive vehicles from London. You will still pay the London Delivery fee - but returning in London will not incur the normal return fee. Ask for more details. Back to Top / Index NEWS & DISCOUNTS FOR SENIORS AND VOLUNTEER WORKERS We have much respect for our Senior Citizens and the generous people who do volunteer work, including all the people who are working in Tsunami ravaged areas.. So we would like to offer these two categories of people a 5% discount on the basic rental of any product they book with us. Just our little way of saying "Thanks". A special mention must go to two of the loveliest people, Mr and Mrs Proctor, who are in their eighties and they tell me that they have worked with Meals on Wheels for the past 38 years !! Wow !! All travellers should plan carefully to ensure their health and safety whilst away. However, older people have a few extra concerns, such as ensuring that pre-existing medical conditions are well managed. Good advice can be found on this link http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Travel_tips_for_seniors . Or if you do not have access to the internet, let us know and we will mail you a copy. Seniors - travelling in Canada? Travel with ViaRail and we'll let you bring along a friend for FREE when travelling in Comfort Class - all other classes receives a 75% discount! To qualify you must be at least, 60 years of age. One ticket must be purchased at normal seniors fare (which is automatically 10% less than normal adult fare). You must travel between between 01March and 14Dec05 and 6Jan06 and 14Dec06. OUR NEW QUARTERLY COMPETITION - ENDS 31MAY05 Tell us about your best travel memory .... happy, sad, 50 years ago... whatever. What sticks out for you? The best memory, in our humble opinion, will win a $100 travel voucher, a portable discman, a wheelie suitcase and travel bag. By entering you do allow us the right to publish your story on our website. We will just refer to your initials if requested. Back to Top / Index HOT TOPICS FOR AUSTRALIANS Duty-free retailers and airport operators are thrilled about the doubled duty-free allowances for international travellers, bringing Australia's duty free shopping regulations into line with those overseas. International travellers will now be able to take out and bring into Australia $900 (previously $400) worth of duty-free goods such as cameras, watches and electronic equipment and 2.25 litres of wine more than double previous limits under the first major changes to duty-free allowances for more than 17 years. UK Working Holiday visas: working holidaymakers will be able to work in the UK for a maximum of 12 months during the visa’s two-year validity. Vias applicants will also be required to demonstrate that work is incidental to a holiday. The British High Commission in Canberra said the changes were being made to preserve the original “holiday” aspect of the scheme and to prevent abuse. The working holiday visa scheme was previously altered in August 2003. The High Commission raised the age limit and removed restrictions on the type of work visa holders could do. However, the UK government has since become concerned the scheme could be used to subvert normal immigration controls on full-time work in the UK. Australian citizens aged between 17 and 30 can apply for the visa which allows them to stay in the UK for a maximum of two years. Back to Top / Index
The 11 Passenger Actief is for charter only for that week Both barges will be moored in Windsor, within sight of Windsor Castle, on the run up to the wedding on the 6th and 7th of April and for the day of the wedding on the 8th April, so guests have one of the best locations possible for this memorable occasion. The cost to charger the Actief will will USD$27 000 for 9 passengers or USD$ 29750 for 11 passengers. The 8 Passenger Magna Carta costs USD$3650 per person in a suite and includes the 6 night cruise, return transfers from Heathrow or Central London, all daily excursions and Visits with the Royal Wedding Celebrations in mind as well as all gourmet meals, Open Bar and wine with 5 star service from the 4 Crewmembers on board including Captain, Gourmet Chef, Housekeep and Tour Guide. There are even bikes and a jacuzzi on board. Let us know if you would like a brochure Whilst on the subject of canal barging...lets talk about Europe. Back to Top / Index A SIX WEEK EXCLUSIVE BARGE CRUISE IN EUROPE FOR JUST 12 DISCERNING GUESTS or two or 3 week 'sector' cruises. Join us for this very special voyage. A thousand mile journey along Western Europe’s finest inland waterways. Enjoy the intriguing and peaceful world of hotel barge cruising during this unique six week adventure along the canals and rivers of central Europe between the southern French Provencal town of Avignon across Europe to vibrant Amsterdam in northern Holland. Six weeks of expedition cruising through several European countries, capital cities and cultures along Europe’s most famous rivers such as the Rhone, Seine and Rhine as well as enjoying the many smaller canals and rivers and lakes as this incredible journey unfolds. This voyage also follows the advance of the American, British and allied forces liberating the French, Belgium and Dutch populations and passes through regions held by the French resistance, liberated by General Patton and fought over by the airborne forces codenamed operation Market Garden in September 1944 to try and cross the Rhine at Arnhem. For those interested in the historical importance of this period the voyage is an extraordinary opportunity to absorb the importance and value of the Second World War following the D-day landings of June 1944 and the 60th anniversary in 2004. Your cruise aboard Impressionniste is limited to just 12 discerning passengers. This extraordinary voyage will be a mixture of days spent cruising, sight seeing and city stays whilst discovering the regional cuisine and wines of Provence, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Champagne, Alsace and the Moselle and Rhine valleys. The majority of meals are taken aboard ship but every week at least once we dine ashore. Impressionniste generally cruises only when all the passengers are aboard, but daily excursions are programmed and on occasion the vessel may make up ground whilst passengers are ashore. All accommodations on board, all meals, entry fees on shore excursions, wines and bar drinks are included in the price of USD$21 000 per person sharing a cabin. As there have been a number of enquiries for just sectionss of the trip - this 6 week trip is now being offered in 'sectors' of 2 and 3 weeks'. Click on http://www.ukandeuropetravel.com/creww.shtml for more details. Back to Top / Index ACCOMMODATION - FLASHY? OR CLEAN, BASIC BUT DEFINITELY NOT TRASHY! So if you're travelling around in a car, you need somewhere to stay. Now consider that you're going be out sightseeing most of the day...a hotel should really just be a place to rest your weary body...so consider if you really need something flashy or something clean and basic. We do have access to some really great hotel rates around Europe, USA, UK and Canada. In London , we have double rooms from just Australian $58 per person including VAT, service fees and breakfast!! In Paris, from just Australian $64 per person in a 2* plus hotel again including service fees, tax and breakfast. In the USA & Canada, we have hotel vouchers for just USD$79 per room per night which sleeps up to 4 persons. Great for families who are travelling around. You will stay at good chain hotels like Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Ramada, Travelodge, Amerihost Inn, Super 8, Villager etc. In the US, we also have apartments and villas in many resort areas and cities throughout North America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Prices start from USD$699 plus tax for one weeks rental. So if it's accommodation you're after...just send us an email with your requirements and we'll be happy to send you a few options for each city. UK TO IRELAND/FRANCE AND A CAR - ONE RENTAL OR THREE SEPARATE ONES? Unfortunately, our Eurostar Earlybird has ended. But it's still a great way to travel. From London to Paris in 2 hours 35 minutes of which 20 minutes will be spent in the tunnel, under the sea. There are up to 22 roundtrips per day. Fares start from Australian $109 per adult one way. Or we have a great special on London to Ireland ferry crossings... Book as a foot passenger, by 31 March 05 from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire or Fishguard-Rosslare and the 2nd passenger travels free. The other option is to use the budget airlines like www.easyjet.com, www.ryanair.com etc If you're renting a motorhome and wish to travel between the above countries ie UK, France and Ireland, we can quote you the prices for taking the motorhome across by ferry. If you're travelling by car and wondering whether it would be better to have one car from the UK and taking it to Ireland and back by ferry or whether you should have separate hires there are a few things to consider. If you do one longer rental, it is convenient as you just have the one car hire and you can probably take advantage of the lower price as you are keeping the car for longer. However, the ferry crossing does cost a fair amount of money. As an example, from Holyhead to DunLaoghaire, you are looking at approximately £180 or Australian$ 450 return for a car and 2 passengers (this based on mid season) . If you balk at paying that ferry crossing fee for the vehicle, you can do separate rentals eg. one rental from London to Holyhead, another from Rosslare to Fishguard and then another from Fishguard to London. Travelling as a foot passenger is cheaper, but you have to weigh up the inconvenience of 3 rentals and that fact that the car companies with the lowest rates don't have depots at the ferry ports. So you may not have much choice in which car company you use and thus pay a higher daily rental rate. Also the fact that you may be paying 3 shorter rentals means you may be using say the 3-6 day rate or the 7-13 day rate which is of course higher than say a 21 day+ rate. So it gets a bit tricky. We are happy to do the math for you if you let us know your plans and then you can decide if you would prefer to pay for the convenience of one car or happy to have a bit of inconvenience and save the $..... As for those who want to pick up a car and take it onto the continent - we suggest doing separate rentals. However if you plan to keep one car from London and return it in Europe and are travelling for more than 8 weeks, then tax free car leasing may be an option for you. Do realise though that with car leasing, the vehicle will still be a left hand drive even if you pick it up in right hand drive Britian. . Give us a hoy if you need more info. Back to Top / Index
-1 cup of rice per 2 persons - 1 chicken breast or 2 or 3 rashers of bacon - Chopped onion - Tinned or frozen diced mixed veg - Stock/seasoning cube. Slice bacon into little strips or cube the chicken breast Fry this with the onion in a bit of oil and set aside when browned Cook rice normally in the same pot adding the stock cube. A few minutes before rice is done, throw in the veggies. When that is warmed through, add back in the chicken or bacon and when heated through check to see if it needs salt or pepper & serve with Parmesan, if liked.. Potato and Bacon meal. One pan. - 2 potatoes per person - 2 rashers of bacon per person (Or a chopped sausage if preferred) - one large onion chopped, more if you like - a handful of mushrooms, thickly sliced Parboil the potatoes in their jackets until 3 quarters cooked. Cool and peel and then slice quite thickly. Then heat a bit of oil or butter simply put all the ingredients back into the pot, sauteeing all until potatoes are soft. Season with salt and pepper and serve. HANDY LINKS For public holidays, school holiday, religious holidays etc Worldwide - www.national-holidays.com GUIDE TO WHAT'S ON IN EUROPE
Los Angeles, CA - Sweet and Hot Jazz Festival - Sept 05 - Labor Day Weekend |
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