A night in the Dungeon

THIS October, The San Francisco Dungeon and Booking.com are offering the ultimate Halloween sleepover experience. Brave souls can book a private one-night stay in the popular underground attraction on Monday, Oct. 30 or Tuesday, Oct. 31. 

Accommodations include an overnight stay in the chilling “Ghosts of Alcatraz Suite.” The price? $666 per night for up to four people. Reservations will be accepted starting Friday, Oct. 13 at 10:13 a.m. EST at Booking.com and are available on a first come, first serve basis. 

The San Francisco Dungeon, located on Fisherman’s Wharf, offers a unique journey through the Bay Area’s hysterically horrible past. And on Oct. 30 and Oct. 31, after the lights go down on the daily interactive shows, a few (un)lucky guests can slumber amongst the chilling darkness and haunting walls of the attraction’s authentically reproduced Alcatraz jail cell.

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Villas on volcanoes

FANCY a self-catering holiday on or near a volcano? Massimo's Villas in #Italy can help. The agency has a growing portfolio of #villas on Mount Etna, Sicily, and on nearby Stromboli. 

For villa guests, Massimo's team can arrange excursions of Mount Etna with volcanologists who will show them lava flows, caves, and craters, and finish with samplings of seasonal produce including the local Etna Rosso wine from the fertile slopes of the volcano.  There are picnic areas and nature trails through beech woods, with volcano and sea views.   

Near Etna, Villa Carmela is a house with for two with lava stone walls and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Price: one week's self-catering accommodation costs from €2,065 (£1,588)

Stromboli is a small island off the north coast of Sicily dominated by an active volcano. Guided volcano walks start from the church of San Vincenzo and take about two and half hours to reach the top. Alternatively, a 40-minute walk up to a former military marine observatory gives a view of the volcano, while the terrace of a nearby pizzeria is the perfect spot from which to watch volcanic explosions.   

Villa Il Gabbiano – on the bay of Ficogrande is Il Gabbiano, Stromboli – is a stylish house with a salt-water pool and sea and volcano views, and is tailor-made for large groups. Divided into separate, self-contained living spaces over two floors, the property is reached by way of a ferry or hydrofoil from Sicily or Naples.

Price: one week's self-catering accommodation costs from €4,000 (£3,077) for 20 guests to €9,350 (£7,190) for 32.     

www.massimovillas.com    

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Is this the Holy Grail of Stag and Hen parties?

UK's stag and hen industry company Last Night of Freedom has announced an unlikely destination. Packed with history and tradition – not to mention conflict –#Bethlehem in #Israel might be one of the last places to be considered as a setting in which to mark the end of singledom, but the company thinks it could be the perfect choice for #stagandhenparties looking for something a little different. 

It’s offering a five-night trip to Bethlehem and Tel Aviv, in which there will be a two-day cultural tour comprising visits to Manger Square and the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, Masada, and the Dead Sea.

Says the company’s managing director, Matt Mavir: ‘While the more traditional destinations such as Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, and Tallinn remain popular choices, we're enjoying offering locations that may never have been considered previously.’

‘Just as you're (hopefully) only going to get married once, you'll only have one stag do. Now people are starting to take the opportunity to spend their last night (or week) of freedom in once-in-a-lifetime destinations. The nightlife in Tel Aviv is sensational. Things don't get going until around 11pm, and there's no last orders policy; so you'll be able to watch biblical sunrises in the early hours.’

www.lastnightoffreedom.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Bethlehem by night by Sengaska - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons 

Swimming with pigs in the Bahamas

THE BAHAMAS is the ‘Official Home’ of swimming pigs, according to the local tourist board – although, it’s not immediately apparent how many rivals the #destination has for the prestigious title. 

Visitors embrace the unique porcine swimming opportunity, greeting the pigs on the uninhabited island of Big Major Cay, affectionately called ‘Pig Beach’.

Chris O’Toole takes a dip with local tour operator, Coastline Adventures …

‘I’ll admit it wasn’t top of my priority list. Indeed, before touching down in The Bahamas’ capital of Nassau I wasn’t even aware swimming with pigs was possible, let alone desirable.

But having been told by both Joy Jibrilu, director general at the #Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, and Bahamas minister of tourism Obediah Wilchcombe, that it was the done thing, I thought I’d better give it a go.

Tour operator Coastline Adventures provided the opportunity, offering half- or full-day tours from the island of Exuma.

Boarding with captain Bob Smith, he answers the question on everybody’s lips by explaining that some years ago a pig farmer saw the need to put a few pigs on Big Majors Cay for breeding purposes.

Other local legends suggest the pigs were dropped off by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them or that there was a shipwreck nearby and the pigs swam to safety.

However it was that they came to be, they are now the highlight of local tourism.

Approaching on board a luxurious yacht they came into view, splashing about in the crystal clear waters. Though feral, they are exceptionally friendly, with more running from under the shade of the almond trees to greet visitors they hope will bring them treats. The pigs frolic freely on the sandy beaches, and after basking in the sun for hours, they swim in the surf. They are also fed by the crews of passing yachts and vessels.

Approximately 20 pigs and piglets survive on Big Major Cay, partly because the island has three freshwater springs, and partly due to the generosity of visiting islanders and tourists.

Dipping into the water, it’s certainly a surreal experience, with the larger pigs swimming past at great speed. Some even attempt to board the boat.

But once the initial commotion dies down, the experience becomes calming and even therapeutic. The pigs splash past in pursuit of bread offered by tourists, while the visitors try to grab selfies in the surf.

Back on the boat, it’s time for complementary rum and fruit Punch! ’

http://coastlineadventuresexuma.com

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Jungle trek to the world’s largest cave

IT’S one of the recently discovered wonders of the natural world, but there’s little likelihood of it being wrecked by mass tourism. Access to Vietnam’s Son Doong Cave – believed to be the planet’s largest cave – is possible, but be very aware that tourists need to be fit and intrepid enough to take on a day-and-a-half through dense jungle and a 260ft abseil down to its entrance.

The Son Doong (which translates as Mountain River Cave) was discovered by a local man in 1991, and was fully explored by British cavers in 2009. The first tourist expedition – six people from the US, Russia, Australia, and Norway – took place in 2013.

Created millions of years ago by river water eroding the limestone underneath a mountain, the cave comprises at least 150 individual chambers, a lake, a fast-flowing river, a jungle, and its own weather system. In total, it’s five miles long, 650ft wide, and 500ft tall … large enough to house an entire New York City block.

Run by Vietnam-based Oxalis Adventure Tours, the 7-day/6-night Son Doong trip costs £1,900/$3,000. It’s led by safety experts and professional guides trained by the company’s technical directors Howard and Deb Limbert, who are members of the British Cave Research Association.

Oxalis says people taking the tour must: be in good physical health; aware they are travelling in a remote area subject to ‘unusual’ climatic conditions and without medical facilities; have comprehensive travel insurance package covering medical treatment, natural disaster, personal accidents, guided-caving tours and medical evacuation; and assume liability for all risks, holding the company ‘blameless’ for accidents and illness.

www.sondoongcave.org

www.oxalis.com.vn

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/94535251@N00/12795505895">Son Doong-72</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>, Peter Carsten hosted sondoongcave.org

Try a sub dive in Malta

EVER wanted to learn to pilot a submarine, but didn’t know who to ask? The place to go is Malta, where Netherlands-based Waterproof Expeditions and U-Boat Worx will be running submarine pilot courses in August. 

The sub is a U-Boat Worx C-Explorer 3, capable of an underwater speed of three knots and a diving depth of 3,280 feet.

The two-day, hands-on introductory course gives learners guided tour of off-shore Malta, clearly seen through the sub’s 360-degree acrylic canopy sphere. The course comprises six dives.

People interested in a supervised pilot licence can opt for a four-day course and the opportunity to operate the craft for 12 dives, accompanied by an instructor. There are also six- and ten-day programmes for those wanting a career in subs.

www.waterproof-expeditions.com/expeditions/Submarine_Pilot_Course

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Picture Credit: waterproof-expeditions.com 

Americans ‘too busy’ for vacations

RESEARCH by Alamo Rent A Car found that 40 percent of US workers who received paid holiday as a job benefit did not use all of their available vacation days. 

When asked why they didn't use all of their days, 47 percent said they were too busy at work. 

‘Our research indicates that work increasingly remains top of mind for many people, even when they're vacationing with their families,’ said Rob Connors at Alamo Rent A Car.

The research revealed that younger American workers are finding it increasingly difficult to leave work behind, with 35 percent of millennials reporting that they work every day while on vacation.

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Picture Credit: GoHoliday via Wikimedia Commons

Art on water

THE UK's 2,000 miles of rivers and canals are shaping up to become a massive cultural space, as this year sees more arts events taking place on or along the water than ever before. 

This summer, the Canal & River Trust's arts programme includes … 

Super Slow Way: A £2 million three-year programme on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, focusing on the towns of Blackburn, Accrington, Burnley, and Brierfield. Funded by Arts Council England, the programme draws its inspiration from Ian McMillan's poem, carved into a lock beam in Gargrave, which captures the contrast between the canal as a 19th century super highway and the tranquillity now found on its banks. Projects planned along the canal route include artist residencies and performances. (www.superslowway.org.uk)

The Line: The trust is a leading partner for a new world-class sculpture walk in London. The three-mile route, named after the Meridian Line, takes in the River Lee Navigation, passes through the ever-changing East London landscapes, and links the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the O2. (www.the-line.org)

The Floating Cinema on Tour – Brentford to Bristol & Back Again: With the support of the trust and Arts Council England, a boat will travel to Bristol and back between June and August. A series of archive screenings, talks, and workshops will tap into local heritage and culture along the Kennet & Avon Canal. (visit www.floatingcinema.info/about)

LAND by Antony Gormley: Marking the Landmark Trust's 50th anniversary, the trust has commissioned the positioning of a new life-size Gormley sculpture overlooking the canal at Lengthman's Cottage on the South Stratford Canal, Warwickshire. The sculpture complements four others being placed in Suffolk, Dorset, the Mull of Kintyre and on the Bristol Channel. All five will be unveiled as part of the Landmark Trust's Golden Weekend (May 16-17). (www.landmarktrust.org.uk)

Tim Eastop, who produces the Canal & River Trust's Arts on the Waterways programme, says: ‘Canals and rivers have long been a source of inspiration for artists and there is a rich tradition of great art associated with the waterways. Our programme for 2015 embraces the full creative spectrum of artforms, from poetry, literature, and music, to sculpture, theatre, and film.’

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Picture Credit: "Regents canal London at dusk" by Caroline Ford - Own work via Wikimedia Commons.

Nightingale safaris at Knepp

NIGHTINGALES are now rare in Britain, due mainly to the disappearance of much of their habitat, but the birds have made an extraordinary comeback at Knepp, West Sussex, home to the largest re-wilding project in lowland Britain. This is thanks to the return of dense, thorny scrub where they like to build their nests. 

Visitors can learn more about the extraordinary life-cycle of the nightingale and enjoy its nocturnal song on one of Knepp’s evening safaris. They go to several nightingale territories in the heart of the Wildland Project.

Nightingale safaris take place every Thursday and Saturday evening between April 23 and May 21, from 7.30-9.30pm, at £25 per person. 

To book, go to https://www.kneppsafaris.co.uk/Safaris/Nightingales 

or call them on 07739 083650.

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Picture Credit: Courtesy of  kneppsafaris.co.uk/Safaris/Nightingales

Go art deco in Cornwall

ONE OFF PLACES has added Filter House – an art deco conversion of a former water treatment building in Cornwall – to its portfolio of self-catering holiday properties. A short drive from both the north and south coasts of Cornwall and new on the market, it is one of just a handful of holiday properties to be furnished with art deco originals.

Built by the South Cornwall Water Board, the property was once a filter room which distributed water throughout the Roseland Peninsula. It has been transformed into an art deco showpiece with light fittings salvaged from Czech markets, a 1930s-themed bathroom, and deco plasterwork.

Sleeping six in three bedrooms, the house looks out onto a quarry lake where there is an abundance of wildlife.

The house is secluded, but just a few minutes’ walk from the village of Ladock which has a shop and a pub.

www.oneoffplaces.co.uk

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Best bushwalking in Oz

NEW SOUTH WALES is Australia's most popular bushwalking region, with more than 5.5 million visitors trekking on the state's bushwalk trails, according to Destination NSW. 

 

More than a third of all travellers in Australia who undertake a bushwalk choose NSW, and more than one in six of all holiday trips in NSW involve bushwalking. 

More than half of all holiday trips to NSW involve a nature-based activity.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase attributes the popularity of NSW bushwalks to the state's diverse natural environment ....

.... ‘NSW has some of the greatest single and multi-day walks in the world. In NSW you can hike up Australia's highest mountain, walk in rainforests, along pristine coastal tracks, and through World Heritage-listed national parks. With more than 820 national parks and reserves, and more than over 1,200 miles of coastline, NSW is the ultimate bushwalking destination.’

The Australian autumn marks the start of the bushwalking season for many, with cooler weather and long sunny days.

http://bushwalkingaustralia.org

http://short-walks.com.au/category/new-south-wales

http://www.australia.com/en/places/nsw.html

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Picture Credit: 'Bushwalking in the rain at Kosciuszko National Park' by Michael Jordan via Wikimedia Commons; 'Maitland Bay, NSW by Alex Proimos from Sydney via Wikimedia Commons

Hotels team up for 4-night get-away offer ...

THE Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, and Seaham Hall – a boutique hotel near Durham – have joined together to give guests a luxury driving experience get-away. 

The four-day driving tour package offers holidaymakers an opportunity to experience the very best of the north of England.

Guests can start their luxury break at either hotel, where they stay for two nights. 

They will be given a picnic basket to set them on their way for the second half of the journey, where they get to spend two nights at the other hotel.

Charles Merchie, general manager at The Feversham Arms: ‘We are in some of the most beautiful scenery in England, yet more often than not people don’t get to see this, as they come for a short break, and head straight back. The drive up to Durham, through the Yorkshire Moors is stunning.'

Guests will have access to spa facilities at both hotels, and the offer includes tickets to two local attractions, Castle Howard - pictured above - and The Beamish Museum, the world famous museum which tells the story of the people of North East England during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. Pictured at right is the 'Dentistry' display at the museum.

Find out more at www.fevershamarmshotel.com and www.seaham-hall.co.uk 

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Picture Credit: Courtesy fevershamarmshotel.com and seaham-hall.co.uk; "CastleHoward-LakeSide" by chris 論 - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Dentistry, Beamish Museum" by Immanuel Giel (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Camp out in luxury

LANTERN & LARKS is opening a glamping site in the walled garden at Exton Park, near Rutland Water.

An 18th century wall surrounds the five-acre garden which slopes down to an ornamental lake. There will be five colonial-style tents, each with three bedrooms, WC and shower with hot and cold running water, sitting/dining areas, fully equipped kitchens with wood-burning stoves, and wooden decks with iron fire pits.

Exton's former potting shed houses a shop supplying firewood and farmhouse provisions.

The site will open in June.

Lantern & Larks - www.lanternandlarks.co.uk - is also looking at potential sites in Cornwall, Somerset, Norfolk, and Shropshire.

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Have a spice day out

WE don’t think twice about the peppermill on our dining table or the vanilla in our ice-cream, but the power of some plants to colour, flavour, and preserve makes them worth more than their weight in gold. 

This summer (May 23-September 6), The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, will explore the world of spices … from the distant lands in which they grow to the botanists authenticating them at Kew for hundreds of years, their stories will be told through a programme featuring banquets, interactive installations, and exhibitions. 

www.kew.org

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Picture Credit: "Kew Gardens 6262-79" by Patche99z - Own work via Wikimedia Commons; "Spice marketstall" by Angel Aroca Escámez (Own work)  via Wikimedia Commons

Make the best cut in Cornwall

FOR travelling foodies, chefs, and those passionate about the provenance of their produce, Etherington's Butchery Academy offers traditional butchery skills combined with a contemporary Cornish experience.

The hands-on courses are held in Etherington's butchery classroom in Wheal Rose, Scorrier, Cornwall. 

The courses offer students the opportunity to get stuck into butchering meat, learning about different cuts, quality control, and knife handling. Tutors guide students from nose to tail and start to finish as they tackle pork, beef, lamb or game.

There are five different courses to choose from, and students can have a half day, whole day or full four day course.

Etherington's Butchery Academy - www.etherington-meats.co.uk - is affiliated with Cornwall College, teaching up and coming chefs the traditional skills.

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For sale: three piers

TWO piers in Blackpool and one in Llandudno have been put on the market with a combined price tag of £12.6 million.

Blackpool Central Pier is for sale at £4.8 million. Blackpool South Pier, which features rides including the Skyscreamer and the Skycoaster rides, will cost £3.3 million. The 2,300ft Llandudno Pier – the longest in Wales – is on sale for £4.5 million.

The piers were built in the 19th century using cast iron piles, steel frames, and wooden decking, and all include promenades, amusement arcades, rides and food outlets.

They generate a total income of more than £1.6 million a year for operator Cuerden Leisure.

Richard Baldwin, a director at Bilfinger GVA, which is handling the sale, says: ‘Each of these piers is an iconic structure, having been popular visitor attractions in two of the UK’s best known resorts for more than a century. Each pier is being offered for sale freehold, subject to the various concession agreements in place.’

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British start-up tackles lost luggage challenge

A British start-up firm claims to have developed a technology that all but eliminates the chance of lost luggage from flights.

The Eviate eTrack, which has been developed by FastTrack Company in conjunction with partners including Air France KLM, is the first technology to link to existing worldwide travel systems, the companies claim. As a result, both the passenger and every airline worldwide knows where a bag is located.

The system also sends the luggage owner a message when the suitcase is on the baggage carousel, and notifies them if and when it is opened during a journey. The patented eTrack technology is the only tracking solution to meet all international air travel regulations, the company says.

The eTag is a digital baggage tag that allows passengers to check in at home, skipping long queues at the check-in desks at the airport. The eTag is only available in conjunction with participating airlines.
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Popularity of river cruising rising among Brits

THE popularity of river cruises has continued to grow with the number of UK passengers taking a holiday on waterways in Europe and further afield growing by 6% in 2014, according to figures released by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

The number of British travellers taking a river cruise grew by almost 8,000, taking the total number to 139,400 last year.

Europe remains by far the most popular region for UK travellers to take a river cruise, accounting for 86% of all passengers. On the continent, the River Danube’s (see top) popularity continued to soar, with passenger numbers rising 41%.

Cruises on Russia’s rivers also grew in popularity, climbing by 15%.

Andy Harmer, director of CLIA UK & Ireland, says: ‘With the continued investment in new ships and the ever-increasing choice and diversity of itineraries in Europe and further afield, it’s no surprise that more UK passengers than ever are opting for river cruises as their holiday choice.’

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Picture Credit: "Passau Panorama 080420 1" by Aconcagua - Own work via Wikimedia Commons

See the puffins!

NATURE lovers who want to see puffins in the most unobtrusive manner can join kayaking puffin patrols on the tiny Channel Island of Herm from now (April) until June. 

The car-free island, with its grassy cliff tops and open seas, is an ideal habitat for hundreds of puffins each spring and summer and is one of the most southerly puffin breeding colonies in Europe.

The kayaking puffin patrols are led by experts who know the movements of the puffins and the waters around Herm. The trips depart from Herm's Shell Beach and take participants around the rocky cliffs to see the birds in their natural habitat. 

The puffins are surprisingly tolerant of humans and the groups often get within 20 feet of the birds. 

Seals are also regular visitors and are known to follow the kayaks!

The kayaking trips take about two hours and are booked through Outdoor Guernsey (www.outdoorguernsey.co.uk). They cost £35 per person and are available on a regular basis throughout April, May, and June.

Holidaymakers looking for a less strenuous puffin sighting can join Bumblebee Boat Cruises (www.bumblebee.gg) on an hour long boat ride around Herm. The trip costs £29.50 for adults and £19.50 for children.

www.visitguernsey.com

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Picture Credit: "Atlantic Puffin" by Andreas Trepte (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

Europcar brings ToMyCar app to rental market

THE ToMyCar app is a new service from Europcar. With it, customers can book, unlock,
and drive their hire car using their smartphone, eliminating the need to visit the counter.

The service is being launched first in the UK from four key locations – London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh airports, and the Europcar Mobility Centre at ExCeL London.

Customers will be able to return their hire car at any of these key locations.

‘ToMyCar harnesses the latest mobile technology to put our customers in control of the car hire process,’ said Ken McCall, managing director, Europcar UK Group. ‘They can locate and unlock their hire car with their smartphone, eliminating the need for picking up the keys at the desk and returning them after the hire.’

The app provides a map, highlighting the pick-up location of the vehicle, allowing customers to go straight to their hire car. They are then able to access their vehicle using their downloaded key via their smartphone.

Any vehicle damage can be recorded by the customer and reported via the app, before they open the doors and begin their journey.

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