Vacation Dreams

Category: Sidebar

  • Free London Museums: The V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museum

    Also free, the nearest tube is: A visit here can be combined
    with a visit to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, but
    maybe not all on the same day! This has a fabulous display of fashion
    over the last few hundred years and includes wonderful 1920’s gowns
    by Schiarpelli and Channel and some more outlandish but nevertheless design
    classics by such designers as Vivienne Westwood. Other exhibits include
    examples of design from Tudor times to modern day. Weekends are the busiest
    time since the admission fee has been scrapped, so try and visit during
    the week, if you can. Visit vam.ac.uk or tel: (+44) 020 7942 2000.

  • Space Tourist Returns!

    South African millionaire Mark Shuttleworth has landed
    safely back on Earth after a 10-day journey into space. The Russian Soyuz
    space capsule carrying the South African millionaire and two crewmembers
    touched down near Arkalyk in the steppes of Kazakhstan at 0351 GMT on
    Sunday 28th April. As he was carried away from the capsule, a grinning
    Mr Shuttleworth said: “Every second will be imprinted and will be
    with me for the rest of my life.” He had spent some of his time carrying
    out scientific work on the ISS, including experiments on the virus responsible
    for Aids, and examinations of ocean life. Mr Shuttleworth, a 28-year-old
    internet magnate, was rumoured to have paid $20m for his trip to the International
    Space Station (ISS). Mr Shuttleworth, who lives in London, is the world's
    second holidaymaker in space.

    He follows in the footsteps of Dennis Tito, a US businessman
    and former American space agency (NASA) employee, who rode into orbit
    last year. The South African is reported to have bought the Soyuz capsule
    and his space suit as a souvenir of his trip. We hear Tom Cruise is queuing
    up for his chance to do something similar!

    Source: bbc.co.uk

  • Bermuda Rum Swizzle

    Serves 6:

    4oz dark rum, 4ox light rum, juice of 2 fresh limes, 5oz of pineapple
    juice and 6oz orange juice, 2oz of Grenadine, 6 dashes of angostura bitters
    – put into the same jug and stir. Enjoy!

  • Appeal for Holidays for the Deaf

    Can anyone put Emma in touch with a tour operator who runs trips for
    people with impaired hearing. Emma’s sister is partially deaf and
    has speech difficulties, but her sign language is up to date and excellent
    – she also lip-reads. She has a very good sense of humour and gets on
    with most people! If you know of anyone who organises tours that would
    be suitable for her, please contact Emma by e-mail

  • Globetrotter Travel Award to the under 30s!

    Under 30? Been a member of the Globetrotters Club for 2 years –
    or want to take out a 3 year subscription? Interested in a £1,000
    travel award? Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each
    year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested?
    We have just made the first award to Mike Dodd, a 22 year old mechanical
    engineering student at Warwick University, to help him with his trip to
    Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

    See our legacy page on our Website, where you can apply with your plans
    for a totally independent travel trip and we'll take a look at it.
    Get those plans in!!

  • Fave Websites of the Month

    If you are ever planning to travel by rail in the UK, there are two invaluable
    web sites. The first railtrack.co.uk will show you timetables for
    the entire country; simply enter your starting point, destination and
    preferred timings and it will come up with the options. You can ask for
    earlier and later journeys. However, this site does not show prices, so
    for this you need to go to: thetrainline.com

    Here in the UK, if you book your train fare one week, two weeks and further,
    in advance, you can achieve substantial savings. Even buying a ticket
    to pick up the next day at the station can make a big difference in price.

    The two rail journeys where buying tickets in advance makes no difference
    is the Heathrow Express, the £12, 15 minute journey from London
    Paddington railway station to London Heathrow airport, and the Gatwick
    Express costing £11, and taking 30 minutes from London’s Victoria
    railway station to Gatwick.

  • Travel Tips

    From Stuart, in London: e-mail yourself your passport details in case
    you lose it.

    Got any travel tips for the Beetle? Then e-mail them to: the Beetle

  • Shopping Outlet in Wales

    If you find yourself in South Wales or around Bristol and you feel like
    shopping, why not check out the McArthurGlen designer outlet just off
    Junction 36 of the M4. The nearest train station is at Bridgend. It’s
    open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am
    to 5pm on Sundays. It’s got ladieswear, menswear, jewellery, household
    – you name it, plus a food court. Name includeTimberland, CK Jeans,
    Windsmoor, Clarks, Wedgwood, Royal Worcester etc. For information, contact:
    01656 665700 or visit: the website

  • Mutual Aid

    Free accommodation in New Zealand

    Land of the Lord of the Rings. A message from Yves: Hello! If you plan
    on passing through New Zealand, just come and pay us a visit! We will
    put you up for free, providing you inform us in advance. Contact details:

    Monsieur Yves Héraud 17
    Morningside Road, flat 4, 0101, Whangarei, New Zealand
    Tel: 64 94308181
    Web: Click Here.
    E-mail: Send e-mail.

    American Rose would like to meet UK Roses!

    Can anyone in the UK help Globetrotter Rose from Seattle via New Jersey?

    She says she plans on coming to England in the fall and would dearly
    love to know people there. If by any chance any Globetrotters members
    are interested in hosting people, and she in exchange would be willing
    to host others, let them know that I just love to travel and really don't
    have firm plans in mind, at this time. She says she just wants others
    to know that as a single woman, she is really keen on knowing people in
    different places. Please contact Rose on: ratterayr@aol.com

    Need help? Want a travelling buddy or advice about a place or country
    – want to share something with us – why not visit our Mutual Aid section
    of the Website: Mutual Aid

  • News: Photo Exhibition, Suffolk, England

    Owen Brown, a mad adventurer and ex-Tour Leader of good old Explore adventure
    travel (maybe some of you know him) is exhibiting a great collection of
    photos of all his journeys. If anyone happens to be in the area of Suffolk
    between 27APR-08MAY and fancy giving it a glimpse, the address is: CLOISTERS
    GALLERY St Edmundsbury Cathedral Bury St Edmunds Suffolk