Travel plan idea blog

Aruba restaurants highly recommended by my friends in the know

This is the guide on where to eat in Aruba that I promised yesterday in my review of places to stay in Aruba. These restaurant recommendations come from five friends of mine who have been to Aruba at different times.

The most highly recommended restaurant in Aruba is El Gaucho for dinner. El Gaucho is a great steak restaurant, said to be on par with the famous Peter Lugar's. Que Pasa and Churrascaria were also suggested for good for meat and steaks.

Also definitely try Madame Jeanette's for dinner. It’s a little off the beaten path but every cab driver knows it. Great atmosphere and food. Le Dome has excellent Belgian food and a nice Italian place (run by a family of Italian immigrants) is Hosteria da Vittorio.

A very good, casual, and inexpensive restaurant in Aruba is "The Pelican's Nest" - Walk out of the Mariott surf club, go to the beach, and make a left. You'll see it out on the water. The Japanese Hibachi place, Blossom, in the Wyndham has excellent food and service. The early bird special for about $16.95 is a great deal.

Papiamente was recommended as a place to visit without the kids. The Queen of the Netherlands has eaten there but I don’t know if Her Majesty has had Brazil fish, a luscious, snapperlike delicacy that's caught only in March and April. Driftwood is good for Caribbean seafood. It is a very popular place, but not much to look at. It is certainly a place the kids will be welcome and enjoy. Also mentioned were the Flying Fishbone and the Buccaneer for dinner spots.

There's also a very nice restaurant in the Hyatt, Ruinas Del Mar. It’s on the bottom floor of Hyatt Aruba on a romantic balcony overlooking the beach. Acqua Grill has really great seafood, but it has more of a rest chain feel than something indiginous to Aruba.

Finally I was told to stay away from the Sunset Grill in the Radisson even though it is touted as one of the best. My friend had his worst meal in Aruba there and said the food in the Radisson overall was mediocre. Another friend told me the same thing.

Aruba - Hyatt, Marriott Surf and Ocean Club facilities, Radisson

I spoke to someone who has a time share at the Aruba - Marriott Surf Club. It's newer than the Mariott Ocean Club, which is next to the hotel. The "OK" casino is in the hotel and the beach is a little less convienent from the Surf Club.

The Mariott has some nice beach. The beach is crowded in some areas but what do you expect on a beach in Aruba? I'm also told that the Marriott has a great pool, and that the pool bar has good deals. Personally, I love pool bars.

All in all, the Mariott comes highly recommended. I did hear some good things about the Aruba Radisson (but also heard that the food there is some of the worst food in Aruba) and also spoke to someone who rented a house with some friends. The three of them spent 1500 US dollars on the week for a small house. Split three ways, that's not bad.

The Hyatt is the nicest hotel on Island, but of course it is very expensive. I hear
they're building a Ritz which would be nicer and more expensive.

I'm told that there's really not a bad time to go except for the week of President's Day when Aruba is a mob scene (especially that 3 day weekend). Aruba is outside of the hurricane belt and the weather is a pretty constant 80 - 85 degrees. That doesn't sound too hot, but be very careful in the sun. Aruba is very close to equator and the sun is intense even though with the breeze you won't feel it. Use sun block or very high SPF.

Check back soon for some restaurant recommendations in Aruba. I'm compiling them from a few freinds now.

2006 Rio di Janeiro Carnival dates, travel information

Carnival in Rio di Janeiro will be February 25, 26, 27, 28 in 2006. The Smaba Parade is quite famous, and I've seen tickets being sold online from just over 100.00 to just under 600.00. CNN says that tickets are available at http://liesa.globo.com/ but I don't see an English section.

At least the Street Carnival is free. It happens all over the city. Banda de Ipanema is one of the most traditional ones. It was founded in 1964, and today it's listed as part of the city cultural heritage, attracting as many as fifteen thousand people!

I'm told that the rest of Rio is good as well. The buses make it easy to get around town, and there is lots to see and do. Going up the Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer mountains definitely rank as a must do. The traveler I spoke to said "I only met three people who were mugged so it's not at all as dangerous as the guidebooks make out!"

It pays to travel light

Ryanair, the low cost European airline, has an interesting experiment planned. Next month, the no-frills airline will charge 5 GBP (British Pound) for every bag passengers wish to check in. Anything over 10 kilograms must be checked.

Passengers on Ryanair can also check in online. Travellers will only pay half the new fee if they pre-book their luggage via Ryanair's website. Ryanair is also increasing each passenger's total luggage allowance by 5 kilograms to 30 kilograms.

New Zealand's Chronicles of Narnia travel

Many scenes in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe were shot in New Zealand (some were shot in the Czech Republic, the US, and England). If you want your New Zealand travel plan to include places in the movie, here are a few ideas.

The White Witch's Camp: Auckland, New Zealand

An hour Northwest of Auckland, on New Zealand’s North Island, Woodhill Forest was transformed into the dreaded camp of the White Witch for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Things to do around Woodhill Forest include mountain biking, taking a trip around Auckland, or visiting the black sands of Muriwai beach.

The Great Battle: Southern Alps, South Island, New Zealand

Flock Hill in the Southern Alps on the South Island of New Zealand, is an area of twisted rocks and deep valleys. In The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this is where the great battle for Narnia took place. It will be possible to tour the area and it offers breathtaking scenery, especially beautiful lakes.

Aslan's Camp: Waitaki, South Island, New Zealand

In the Waitaki region of South Island, ancient Elephant Rocks protrude from the hillside. This area became the backdrop for Aslan’s camp in the movie. The historic town of Oamaru, with its colony of blue penguins and beautiful Victorian buildings, provides a great base for exploring the area.

Cair Paravel: Purakaunui Bay, South Island, New Zealand

You can't see the great castle in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (it was computer generated). it appeared on the spectacular cliffs of Purakaunui Bay. The area is pristine and it is worth taking a few days to explore the stunning nature in this coastal region.

Popular travel spots

On Jan. 4, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates unveiled the 2006 results of their annual Travel Trends Survey. Carlson Wagonlit Travel polled 363 of their travel associate owners, managers and frontline agents throughout the United States. The survey was conducted from November 28 to December 16, 2005.

Las Vegas remains king of domestic destinations and Caribbean cruising continues to be the hottest international option for travelers. Caribbean cruising was followed by the Riviera Maya in Mexico with 51.2 per cent while Cancun in Mexico was third with 49.3 per cent. Jamaica was ranked 4th and Puerto Vallarta made a leap into the top five from its 12th position in 2005. The surge in travel to Puerto Vallarta and the western coast of Mexico has been attributed to the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.

Top 10 Domestic Destinations: 2006

1 - Las Vegas, NV 79.6%
2 - Orlando, FL 71.3%
3 - Maui, HI 58.1%
4 - Honolulu, HI 57.9%
5 - New York City, NY 40.8%
6 (tie) - Anchorage, AK 19.0%
6 (tie) - Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ 19.0%
8 - Kauai, HI 16.3%
9 - Fort Myers, FL 16.0%
10 - San Francisco, CA 12.7%

Top 10 International Destinations: 2006

1 - Caribbean Cruising 76.3%
2 - Riviera Maya, Mexico 51.2%
3 - Cancun, Mexico 49.3%
4 - Jamaica 34.7%
5 - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 30.6%
6 - Rome, Italy 25.6%
7 - London, United Kingdom 23.4%
8 - Punta Cana, D. Republic 22.6%
9 - Cruising Mexico 19.0%
10 - Cabo San Lucas/ 16.5%
Los Cabos, Mexico

Top 5 Cruise Destinations: 2006

1. Caribbean (Western) 30.6%
2. Alaska 24.8%
3. Caribbean (Eastern) 20.1%
4. Caribbean (Southern) 8.8%
5. Mexican Riviera 5.8%

Costa Rica questions and answers

I will be travelling to Costa Rica with the wife & my 2 girls (16 & 7). We will arrive in San Jose and be staying near Jaco.

Right now our plan is for the following day trips:

1. Volcan Poas/La Paz Waterfall Gardens (Arenal is farther and my 7 y.o. is dying to see the butterfly garden in La Paz)
2. Parque Manuel Antonio
3. Pacific Rainforest Aerial Tram (near Jaco)
4. Possibly taking a boat trip out to one of the small Pacific islands

Question: I am considering renting a car to get around instead of taking shuttles. Does anyone recommend that or is driving too dodgy?

Answer: If you haven't driven around in Costa Rica yet - I would recommend that you learn the lay of the land first - the trips you mentioned sound like a good sampling - once you see how the main roads work and the driving style of the country - which is very agressive - you will probably feel more comfortable driving.

Question: What are the best resources for traveling to Costa Rica?

Answer: In my opinion, here are the two best guide books - Costa Rica for Dummies and the Lonely Planet Guide to Costa Rica.

Question: I've heard great things about the Nicoya Peninsula and would also be interested in any tips or recollections you might share.

Answer: The Nicoya peninsula is great - We've stayed at Playa Samara and Montezuma and enjoyed both for different reasons. However I will tell you - we are strange and don't like to go where the crowds are - hence we stay away from some of the more popular locations.

We rented a car and drove out to Montezuma (and Mal Pais, St. Teresa, & Cobano) . I thought Montezuma felt a bit more touristy/college town than Tambor or Mal Pais, but I liked them all. Montezuma is a real kids hang out - but where we were it was about a km East of the village on the beach - that's where the wildlife preserve begins and runs all the way to Tambor. We rode horses through it and that was a real treat.

We also watched some football in Spanish and ate lunch at the Sano Banano. (Who knew that a sack was a "captura"?) I liked that football was easy to find down there. The nachos were good and I loved the presentation, even the refried beans were good which I usually hate.

If you ever go to Southern Nicoya, in Tambor there is a little Italian place (the sign just says pizza and Italian kitchen or something) that is really great.

We did the Cloud Forest before heading (by ferry) to the Nicoya Penninsula. Monkeys, iguanas, geckos, every kind of bird imaginable, coati, and some so-so scuba diving. A great trip. Costa Rica was beautiful, and the people were quite nice.

We were in Manuel Antonio for a week, we stayed in a beautiful place called La Mansion. Lots to do in the area, and with kids in toe you may want to check out a place called Anaconda for dinner one night. They've been feeding those crazy little spider monkey guys for years and they come like crazy everyday, around 5ish, ask someone and they will tell you.

Your girls and you will get a huge kick out of it. The park is an awesome experience and if you have time, check out the hotel Mariposa for a drink at the bar. Incredible hotel. We did a rafting trip which was great.

Question: Can we drive from San Jose to Arenal?

Answer: It is a trek from San Jose to Arenal because you have to go over and around the mountain chain in the area - the Poa Volcano is more of a straight run up hill - and if you go to Poa and have a chance you can visit the Doka Coffee Plantation there - despite what the other coffe tours say - that's where the best coffee can be had - their Organic Roast is amazing - we are set on trying to work out a deal to distribute their organic coffee.

Question: Didn't they set Jurasic Park in Costa Rica?

Answer: We drove through the area where Jurassic Park was filmed two years ago. It's on the Central Carribbean side of Costa Rica - it was awesome - miles and miles of Tropical rainforest wilderness

Question: Where's your favorite spot in Cost Rica?

Answer: The best spot we were at was the Tabacon Resort under the Arenal Volcano (which is still erupting) we hung out in the lava-heated hot springs there - in the middle of a spectacular rainforest with volcanic views and massages and great food. Avocado salad made right at the table and the ceviche (raw fish marinated in lime juice) just amazing - that's a great meal.

The Arenal volcanic spa, Cloud Forests, and Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

Enjoy this story from a football fan catching the Giants playoff game while on Vacation in Costa Rica:

Just back from two beautiful weeks relaxing at the Arenal volcanic spa, the Cloud Forests and the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. While there this Giant fan was not going to miss the Playoff Game with the Panthers so here is a report for your amusement of what happened in Costa Rica.

We pulled into Montezuma, a sunny, dusty, dry beach town on the Southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula of Costa Rica, at 3pm the day before the game in 95F weather. We had driven 7 hours from the Arenal Volcano overland - unwisely - instead of driving to Punterenas (about 2 hours) and taking the ferry to Paquera (about 1 1/2 hours) and then driving to Montezuma (another hour). Not only was the drive long, but only about an hour of driving took place on adequately paved roadway. Which means we bounced, jiggled, jogged and swerved along the road while raising many clouds of dust in our leetle Diatsu 4WD.

Well I walks into El Sano Banano, a bar on main street that doubles as our hotel reception area, rings the desk bell, and when the Tica comes out I tells her that I have a very serious issue that needs to be resolved for tommorrow before we can check in. I need to know where I can watch the very important American football game at 12 noon (Costa Rica is CST). Well the Tica (a very pretty Tica) tells me that I will have to talk to the manager sitting at the sidewalk table on dusty main street about this. Will the game be on ESPN?, he asks me when I pose my request. I tell him it will probably be on Fox. He tells me no problem, be here at El Sano Banano at noon tomorrow.

Our hotel room was a geodesic dome on the beach about a 10 minute drive from town. Surrounded by Palm trees, orchids, some tree that grew Ylang ylang flowers, three types of monkeys, 2 parrots, little furry creatures called agoutis, giant marine toads, an assorment of geckos, two rope hammocks and views of the turqoise surf pounding the beach. We had no phone, no clock, no TV, no AC, and when it got dark - a lot of stars - and nearby a very pleasant restaurant perched just off the beach lit maily by candles and fire poles.

The next morning after breakfast we strolled down the beach and over to main street, and there in front of El Sano Banano the manager had erected a handmade poster that hadn't been there yesterday when we checked in announcing - NFL Playoffs Today at El Sano Banano - We walks in and at the back of the bar there was a 52" LG flatscreen plasma TV - tuned into ESPN and a soccer match - which shortly after we sat down and ordered nachos and drinks - was switched to FOX and the game began shorlty thereafter - with Spanish speaking commentators.

Mi Amigos, I was a very happy man - I wouldn't even have to listen to the moronic commentators narrating and belaboring the issues of the game! After the Giants lost, we walked out of El Sano Banano and went swimming.

Cruise deals

Royal Caribbean has a six-night cruise of the western Caribbean on the Jewel of the Seas with inside cabins for $549 per person and ocean view rooms from $599. Sail February 5th from Ft. Lauderdale if you book on Tuesday.

Holland America has a 10-night cruise of the eastern Caribbean on the Noordam with inside cabins for $1,099 and ocean view rooms from $1,299 per person. Sail March 15th from New York City.

Norwegian Cruise Lines has a seven-night cruise to Bermuda on the Norwegian Crown with inside cabins for $829 and ocean view rooms from $909. Sail April 30th from Philadelphia.

Carnival has a four-night cruise to Canada on the Victory with inside cabins for $329, ocean view rooms for $399, and balcony units for $469 per person. Sail June 13th from New York City.

Safe traveling in Turkey

With bird flu cases being found in Ankara and Eastern parts of Turkey and infected chickens found in Istanbul, many tourists are reconsidering their planned trips to Turkey.

Tourists can still travel in Turkey safely, as long as they avoid all contact with poultry, surfaces contaminated with uncooked poultry, bird droppings, and feathers. Poultry farms, slaughter houses, butchers and markets selling live animals should be avoided.

The bird flu virus is present in the droppings of infected birds, poultry meat, blood, and eggs. The virus is killed by temperatures of around 160 degrees farenheit (about 70 degrees celsius), so when chicken is well cooked there should be no problem. The same applies to eggs, but runny yolks must be avoided.

Trouble with easyJet

Guardian Money did a little trouble-shooting before the European court of justice dismissed a challenge yesterday to European Union rules covering compensation for air travellers whose flights are overbooked, cancelled or delayed.

Peter Ashworth was among 180 passengers stranded at Bratislava airport after easyJet cancelled its return flight to Luton on December 30. EasyJet said it could only offer a replacement flight six days later.

Mr Ashworth and his wife, Maureen, queued for two hours to be told that the plane would not be flying. No reason was given. The pair were offered a flight on January 5 but told they would have to pay the intervening hotel bills. Contrary to EU regulations, he said they were not handed a leaflet detailing their rights or offered any food or drinks. "It was utter chaos. There was one member of staff to tell 180 passengers they wouldn't be flying, and she knew nothing. No help was offered."

The pair were lucky to buy the last two seats on another flight offered by rival airline SkyEurope and flew back at 7.15pm, but to Stansted. "The extra flights cost us £440 and we had to get a £50 taxi back to our car. When we complained to easyJet on our return they just offered us the cost of the unused return proportion of our tickets - just under £60 each. We've since been told our holiday insurance won't cover it," said Mr Ashworth.

EasyJet said weather problems across Europe on that day caused disruption to the fleet, causing aircraft to be grounded at airports which were snowed in and resulting in the cancellation. It has since confirmed that it will pay for the Ashworth's replacement flights and out-of-pocket expenses.

Dollar Rent a Car

I always wonder how travel troubleshooters get their answers where us normal folk can not. Here's a story about someone who was badly mistreated by Dollar Rent a car and then couldn't get anyone in customer service to talk to him.

The troubleshooter got Dollar Rent a Car to admit its mistake and issue a refund, but I wonder what percentage of people like you and I would be able to get the same results.

A few days in Paris

You'll notice a few places in this Paris travel plan/vacation itinerary where activities can be added and you'll notice that most meals you're on your own. This gives you a chance to make some use of your guidebooks and do a little exploring. We're just trying to give you some ideas for your Parisian vacation.

Paris, Day 1

Check into your hotel. One posible hotel in Paris: Holiday Inn Paris Saint Germain Des Pres (1-4954-8700) on 92, rue De Vaugirard (1 block from Montparnasse) is said to have good prices, be in a nice neighborhood, and have a central location.

Depending on what time you arrive, you should have time to go for a walk and get some dinner. Going for a walk when it's still daylight will help you overcome jet lag.

Paris, Day 2

Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Climbing the 387 steps to the top of this masterpiece is well worth the effort for the spectacular view. Construction of the first great Gothic cathedral began in 1163 and was largely completed by 1212. The rebuilding of the two transept gates in 1270 marked its completion. The west face is adorned with three richly decorated doorways and crowned with two 69m towers. The cathedral is busy at the best of times; especially on Sundays, when much of the building is closed to visitors. Admission: cathedral is free, towers around EUR6.

Notes: Beautiful cathedral, go early in the day to avoid crowds and see the sunrise.

Musee d'Orsay

Built in what was originally a train station, the building itself is unique and interesting. The museum has an impressive art collection, which dates back to the early 19th century. It is however primarily known for its magnificent impressionist and neo-impressionist collection. The museum also strives to promote art by organizing festivals, special shows, exhibitions, conferences and concerts on a regular basis.

Notes: Great impressionist collection, a little less "touristy" than the Louvre

Grand Colbert (Le), 4, rue Vivienne
Phone: +33 1 4286 8788

This renowned, classic brasserie is housed in the Galerie Colbert. Sporting repainted friezes, fabulous gilding and fine Cafe de Paris-style lamps, this wonderful 1830s brasserie, now a listed building, looks as good as new. One of this fashionable district's most popular eateries, there's a constant buzz about the place and classic fare features on the menu: beef or fish dishes and choucroute. The fabulous seafood platter costs around EUR32.

Notes: Featured in Something's Gotta Give, recommended by Fodor's

Paris, Day 3

Cafe de Flore

Phone: +33 1 45 48 55 26
172, bld St-Germain

An historical landmark in Paris since 1890, this cafe was a favourite of many great 19th-century writers and artists. French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre always took his coffee and croissant on the terrace. These days you can drop in for a quick snack or glass of Champagne having shopped-till-you-dropped in the district's luxurious boutiques. The smart set that revels in the cafe's upmarket style ensure that its reputation lives on.

Notes: Fun cafe for cafe cremas and people watching, near the hotel.

Paris, Day 3

Eiffel Tower

Champ de Mars

Paris just wouldn't be Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World Fair, at 300m it was then the world's tallest building. Not everyone was happy when it was first built; many considered it an eyesore and wanted it pulled down, but today it is one of the world's most visited monuments. The first and second floors can be reached using the stairs, and lifts take visitors to the magnificent view at the top. Admission (elevator to the top): EUR9.90 Adults; EUR5.30 Children under 12.

At night, after dinner, a cruise down the Seine will be a romantic choice.

Paris, Day 4

Musée du Louvre

Depending on when you leave, of course. The Musée du Louvre houses 35,000 works of art drawn from eight departments, displayed in over 60,000 square meters of exhibition space dedicated to the permanent collections.

Notes: Go early as the crowds get heavier and heavier.

Sri Lanka becoming more popular

The Tsunami hit Sri Lanka hard, but tourism is back. Vogue's October issue called the island one of the winter's "coolest tropical getaways" while Conde Nast Traveller rated it 11th in last month's 2005 Readers' Travel Awards.

Udaya Nanayakkara, chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board said: "It was a tragic year for us in 2004, but tourism is an extremely resilient industry and we are working hard to ensure that the buoyancy will continue."

Lonely Planet notes that only some areas are completely recovered and travelers should keep track of tsunami-specific information (through the Lonely Planet web site). They also warn:

Recent skirmishes and civil protests have seen strain placed on the agreed ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE (Tamil Tiger) faction. Areas north of Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Nilaveli, as well as the eastern side of the island south of Trincomalee, including Batticaloa, remain unsafe for travellers. Pockets of the northern and eastern areas are heavily mined. The security situation in the Jaffna Peninsula remains uncertain. The A9 road to Jaffna remains heavily mined.

I think magazines like Vogue are talking about going to a resort, coming home, and saying you did something exotic. I'm not saying you have to do something dangerous on vacation, but I feel that if you don't leave the resort you haven't done anything exotic.

Virgin Islands

St. John is very beautiful, particularly Caneel Bay. The beaches are world class and the diving is good. There's not much night life other than some excellent restaurants.

St. Thomas is a quick ferry ride away. Tons of activities, great restaurants, beautiful destinations and great shopping for great prices. Virgin Gorda was nice for a day trip for diving, exploring.

St. Martin was very cool and I enjoyed visiting the French side as much as I enjoyed the Dutch side. The butterfly farm on the island is reported to be a total waste of time. A friend said that not only was it boring but that he only saw 10 of them on the entire farm.

St. Lucia was amazing and visually the best Island I have visited. The food is unique, alot more spicier then the other islands. They have a great tour of their dormant volcano, you can walk right on top of the center, great place to hike if you're into that. Also if possible, that one of the several boat tours that take you around the scenic island. Well worth $40 for all the food, drinks, music and the amazing views of the island from their boat.

A lot of these islands also have submarines tours that I'd definitly recommend. You can also take a cruise that visits several of these islands. That way you get to experiance them all and then you can decide where you liked the best for a more detailed future visit. Good Luck.