Posted by Jackie Hewett on Wed 14th January 2009 at 03:49 AM, Filed in Unusual Hotels
Fancy a Night in Jail? Probably not if you have recently been detained at ‘her majesties pleasure’. However, if you are looking for a really different hotel experience, or even in the name of research Trip Inspiration have uncovered what must be some of THE most unusual hotels around – and yes, incredibly there is more than one of them!
Karosta Prison, Liepaja, Latvia
This hotel was built in 1905 as a navy prison for mutinous sailors and was used by the Soviets, Nazis and Latvians. It was changed to a hotel in the 1997. For under £20 you get to sleep on real prison benches / mattresses, see the graffiti left by inmates, be subjected to bed checks and be abused in Russian (for the real KGB experience) by hotel ‘guards’. The hotels motto? ‘Unfriendly, unheated and uncomfortable’. I wonder why there are no reviews on Trip Adviser for this one?!!
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Mon 12th January 2009 at 03:39 AM, Filed in India, Travel Tips
These tips should help smooth your way if you are back backing within India, or at least an independent traveler. The tips are based on personal experience of 3 different trips to India.
Essential kit to take / carry during your travels:
• Ear Plugs - especially if you intend to travel by bus at all (see travel below)
• Wet Wipes – including some anti-bacterial ones for your hands before eating
• Loo Roll – if you are caught short and have to use a public facility don’t expect to find any
• Diorite & re-hydration sachets - need I spell it out!
• Bicycle lock and padlock – for your backpack & use it ALL THE TIME!
• Money belt (in preference to a ‘bum bag’ or ‘fanny pack’) – to wear under your clothes & keep your passport & ticket information in it too
• Cereal / energy bars brought from home – better than chocolate as they won’t melt and very handy for emergencies where you really don’t trust the food in your environs
• Mosquito Repellant
• Spare sheet – if you intend to stay in very cheap places
• Mosquito net – again if you indent to stay in very cheap places that may not supply them and in a high malaria risk area / time
• DON’T take expensive jewelry or watches – they will only make you even more of a target
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Sun 11th January 2009 at 03:21 AM, Filed in Africa
I stayed at Scorpio Villas quite a few years ago, and am glad to see from recent reviews that most people seem to still be enjoying the place.
I found Malindi a much nicer place to stay than Mombassa. It is quieter, has a far more low-key feel - you get less hassle on the beaches (although you will get some) and its feels like a safer place.
Scorpio Villas
Malindi is about 2.5 hours by coach or a good 3 hours by public bus from Mombassa (both of which include a short ferry crossing at Likoni). Scorpio Villa’s itself is about a 20 minute amble from the centre of Malindi and is a very quiet low-key place. It is not a high-end luxury – come on it only has 3 stars and it’s in Africa, but for somewhere on a bit of a budget it’s a real gem and offers unbeatable value for money.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Sat 10th January 2009 at 12:19 PM, Filed in March
Continually trying to position itself as the Middle-East destination to visit, Dubai now has quite a number of festivals and events to help lure visitors in. Taking place in March (this year 11th to 14th) a Taste of Dubai which only started in 2008, is probably one of the better and more glitzy ones.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 9th January 2009 at 01:16 AM, Filed in Travel Tips
This checklist is designed for use as soon as you are considering booking a holiday and is divided into timely sections
As Soon as Holiday Booked / When Considering Destination
• Check Passport(s) for valid-to dates (often you require the passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of travel) – organise replacement if required
• Check visa requirements – organise if required
• Check immunisation requirements – organise if required
• Check travel insurance – organise if required. Note – annual policies are usually far better value than tour operators / one-off holiday insurances. Also check what cover your credit cards already give you. If a UK citizen and traveling within EU you probably don’t need insurance depending upon the terms within your home contents cover.
• Organise house-sitter
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