Tips for Travellers
To see a world in a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in a hour…Blake
Carving on a stone at Dartington Hall, Totnes
The journey begins the moment you step outside your front door…For me travel has been a voyage of rediscovery, of following one’s instincts and senses. I have relearned the pleasures of travelling alone, with a friend, a lover and the joy of seeing the world through another’s eyes, the sensory delight of food, art, music, architecture, beauty and laughter; of seeing again with a child-like clarity, but with the experience of an adult, notebook in hand. The story is in the journey and you know the very moment you find what you are looking for…
Hyeres, Provence
Entente Cordiale
Every year the sleepy medieval town of Hyeres puts on a show that
celebrates it’s most famous export - the cane from the reedbeds
of the Var region.
Billed as ‘The Festival where Nature meets Culture’ the
musicians, writers, artists and artisans of the region come together
to celebrate the unique place that the majestic ‘Arundo Donax’ plays
in their lives, and the lives of musicians all over the world. Helen
Pearse took a trip.
(Read more...)
Venice & Verona
Style on a Shoestring - From Venice to Verona and Back Again….
Tired of trying to drum up enthusiasm for their dismal, end-of-the-pier 2nd
of January birthdays, Fizz and Helen sat down over coffee in the depths of winter
and came up with a plan – an ‘official birthday’ in June to
see opera in Verona. Unfortunately, flights direct were overbooked and
overpriced – so they hatched a cunning plan to arrive and leave via Venice,
two destinations for the price of one… Helen Pearse demonstrates the fine
art of budget deluxe…
(Read more...)
New York
The Big Apple Guide for Girls
With
the stress of summer exams looming mother and daughter plan the perfect
New York getaway for when the pressure is off… Alice shows her
mum how to do NYC ‘Park Avenue Princess’ Style – the
mani-pedis, the Manolos, the frocks, the cupcakes and The Frick… Helen
Pearse discovers her inner ‘Charlotte’ SATC on the ultimate ‘girlie’ weekend.
(Read more...)
Helen’s Travel Tips:
Lonely Planet Guides. www.lonelyplanet.com Written by ‘curious, independent travellers’ for like-minded travellers.
Alastair Sawday anything – but especially ‘British Hotels, Inns & Other Places to Stay from his ‘Special Places to Stay series. Makes reducing your carbon footprint a pleasure… www.sawdays.com
Wallpaper City Guides. These little guides provide a perfect snapshot of the ‘must-see’ sights of cities for the design-literate. Not the most obvious choices, but the most rewarding. www.phaidon.co./travel (linked to Wallpaper magazine)
I-Escape. Won ‘Best on-line booking service’ in The Guardian/Observer Travel Awards, 2007. This beautiful, inspiring site specialises in perfect small hotels, wilderness retreats, private villas. Book online direct with destinations. www.i-escape.com
Travel Intelligence. A site filled with advice from professional travel writers. A phone call to knowledgeable staff has resulted in magical itineraries off the beaten track. www.travelintelligence.com
Trailfinders. For tailor-made itineraries over the phone from experts in the region you select. www.trailfinders.com
Hip Hotels. Highly Individual Places – stunning website… www.hiphotels.com
Mr & Mrs Smith. High-end boutique hotel heaven. Covering UK/Ireland and a small selection of European cities. mrandmrssmith.com
Black Tomato. Award winning travel company. Stunning website. ‘Best Travel Website’ award 2006 and 2007, Guardian/Observer Travel Awards. www.blacktomato.co.uk
Budget travel:
Easy Jet/ Ryan Air/ Eurostar and Rail Europe – travel all over Europe at the click of a mouse. Book well in advance for best rates…
Travel Writing:
Dea Birkett and Rory McClean – travel writing workshops. Write articles, hone ideas and pitch them direct to guest travel editors at these one day workshops. www.deabirkett.com
The Travel Bookshop, 13, Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London W11. Established in 1979 this tiny bookshop is an Aladdin’s cave of travel writing and fiction from all over the globe. www.thetravelbookshop.co.uk
Daunt Books, London. Amazing selection of travel writing, fiction and non-fiction books, divided by region and country. Shops to lose yourself in… in Marylebone High Street and Holland Park. www.dauntbooks.co.uk