I am having great days out with Bruno, the owner and founder of Bike in Rio Tours. This one man band has surrounded himself with some great people and formed alliances with many excellent providers with a view to showing visitors a side of Rio that many miss out on.

Many have already experienced the highlights of the city by bike (Monument of Christ, Colourful Lapa, the birthplace of Samba), to name a few. To their great fortune, they got to see the real Rio, via tours by bike.


 The Jungles, the lagoons, favellas, the world's longest mural, of course the beaches amongst many many other things (which I will cover in up-coming posts), like the old slave market Piedras de Sal, considered the birthplace of Samba in South America. Some see more and do more and best of all they got to experience it by bike. 

The subway system, although not extensive enough is quick and efficient albeit crowed on weekdays, so my condolences should you try to get about Rio by car. Even with the air conditioning, the cars and trains cannot makeup for what you miss, or will get to know by experiencing Rio on a tour by bike . 
 The natives to the city are known as Carioca, Bruno is a complete bloody mix of many countries, Portuguese, Syrian, African... and of course as a local he knows the city VERY well. Not to be missed!
 http://bikeinriotours.com/en/rio-full-city-bike-tour/

Wednesday, August 03, 2016

Hmmm this section is going to seem wierd and out of place...

Naturally, that is why I decided to keep it! 
Of course there is also a story behind it, but I am going to keep it short. Went to Thailand, got very wasted bought a timeshare... ahhh there you go, now it makes sense no? Well, I had available to me via the hotels network, many inexpensive hotels for week long stays so I began to search, compile and list and place into my globaljet cheap holidays blog in an attempt to recoup and recover from the mistake that I knew and had been warned about years before. It never amounted to anything, and so if you come across a link for booking that goes no where, please let me know so I can remove it!

Incidently the photo above was taken by my beautiful and talented Argentine wife on our honeymoon in San Blas Islands  ...

Sunday, July 24, 2016

If you are considering to ski Argentina then you have to consider getting down to Bariloche. Bariloche Argentina is one of the most beautiful places to visit and boasts some of the best skiing this side of the Andes. Bariloche Argentina borders one of Latin America´s best ski centers where downhill action begins in July and lasts well into September. Skiers from NZ will undoubtably be right at home in Argentina, if you haven´t done so already explore the many top spots from Cordoba to Mendoza nestled close to the Andes and Chilean border crossing...

 

However for serious skiiers who want to ski Argentina, Bariloche is one of those places high on the lists of favourites and the nightlife in winter is as you would expect, with a huge range of hotels Bariloche including the resorts and hotels of San Carlos de Bariloche ski Argentina and enjoy the best of what the country has to offer, good food and wines great looking locals and excellent snow. For some New Zealanders that come to ski Argentina San Carlos Bariloche is very similar in many ways to Queenstown and even the hoteles en Bariloche give the kiwi visitors a sense of a home away from, but let´s face it everywhere that has snow is a home away from home, and the same goes for those that ski Argentina

CLUB HOTEL DUT - BARILOCHE - Argentina

BAHIA MONTAÑA BARILOCHE

Friday, March 30, 2012

ANGOSTURA

Well, a friend of a friend of a friend asked if I knew of somewhere to fish in Southern Argentina, of course there are plenty of options, so I started with a place that is famous both Winter and Summer recreational sports, San Carlos Bariloche. This post is a work in progress as I am sending out a few live people spiders to see if I can source some good equipment from "people in the know." Whilst coming from New Zealand I have fished a lot, I as yet have never had the opportunity to try my wrist at fly-fishing, however with some great contacts all over Argentina now I´m sure it won´t be too much longer before you see some wierd looking Kiwi Buenos Aires guy in a wetsuit standing in the middle of a river somewhere in  South America.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

 - CARNAVAL WEEK and my aMAZEing (read 'stupid') Adventure

I had no idea who was playing there in Buzios, I said to Bruce, an old friend from New Zealand. I had already paid for a place in Rio so when he told me he was waiting for me at the bus station and we were leaving in 20 minutes I wasn't  convinced immediately. After a fait bit of urging and complaining on both sides, I left the hotel with no more than my watch and wallet and sped towards the bus station to see someone I hadn't even heard from in 5 years.
We made it to Búzios and pulled an all nighter, but after failing to rouse my blacked out buddy, I decided to head back and didn´t stay more than one night.
 LOTS of beautiful women there though ( club Privilege was awesome with international djs playing all night), you get a charge card when you arrive and they fleece your Cr. card on the way out. A great system but dangerous if you´re a drinker!

Búzios, RJ Brazil

www.hotelmandragora.com.br

Be sure to enquire about the service charge fee they ask that´s mentioned below.

Anyway, back to Rio.

More than a great cafe, within the favella in Catete, there is an iconic boutique hotel called "the Maze," it´s  run by an expat Brit called Bobby (does a bloody good curry, has black beer etc.)

 He started building around the period that the movie "City of God" was set. The place looks out over Rio and you can see Nitoroi is the distance, well worth the trip up the hill (get the combo van at the bottom for a couple of Reals) He usually has writers or foreign bands sometimes staying, check it out for sure.
 I remember vaguely rolling out of his place in the wee hours of one morning, you know that moment when you just have to leave, after many shots of cachasa and black beers I said to Bobby I'd be back tomorrow to collect my backpack and began weaving my way down through the favella and into the neighbourhood of Gloria onto Flamenco beach.

The following morning I awoke to see a mosquito sucking on my foot, 'great', I thought, 'dengue for breakfast' (when I walked through the favella I had seen a few doors painted with huge green letters, the word dengue). I was in a hammock. I love my hammock, and we had become very close over the last years. I looked out from it to see a stunning purple and pink sunrise, with the waves gently rushing onto the beach below... quite a long ways below it turned out, maybe 20 foot up in a tree I found myself that morning, a faint twinge of vertigo tried to invade the space in my head currently occupied by my hangover.
With a bit of difficulty I managed to uncouple the hammock off of the thinnest of the two branches I'd decided to hang myself from a few hours before. Lord Lilly. I gathered it all (the hammock silk), together, knots in my stomach and all and as Flamenco is not the safest of places to be, even 20 feet up in the air, I waited until the few early morning walkers passed by below before squirreling down and began to make my way back up the favella steps...

95%/5%?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/british-owner-iconic-maze-hotel-5540384

Street Bands
and Parties

Each neighborhood in Rio has its favorite Carnival street band(s). There are more than 300 of them in Rio nowadays and each year this number increases. Each band has its place or street for its parade and the big ones usually close the streets to the traffic. They usually start in January and last till the end of Carnival. Since the beginning of the year, you can often see groups of people dancing samba in the streets of Rio at the weekends and during Carnival.

Frequently the people who organize the band's procession compose the music for their own parade.

The Carnival bands consist of an orchestra, mainly brass. They march along a predetermined route or stay at the same place, however, are always joined by hordes of enthusiastic samba revelers dressed in costumes, bathing suits, plain clothes, and even many in drag. Blocos are usually smaller, attracting more of a neighborhood crowd. Bandas are bigger in size.
The most famous Carnival bands are

• Cordão do Bola Preta - one of the most traditional bands parading downtown
• Banda de Ipanema marches on three separate days in Ipanema, followed by a huge crowd with lots of gay revelers
• Suvaco do Cristo parades in the Botanic Garden District, right below Christ-the Redeemer statue's arm. The name in English translates to "Christ's armpit", and was chosen for that very reason
• Carmelitas was supposedly created by nuns but in fact it is just an allegory of the band. It parades in the hills of Santa Teresa.

The operation of a Carnival street band is really quite simple. First people gather at some well known spot, such as a square or neighborhood bar. After a couple or more hours of getting together, the band starts marching its way down the streets. Do not miss the initial warm-up gathering. Enjoy the show performed by drag queens and children that stop cars and buses trying in vain to make their way through the crowds. Drivers caught in a band gridlock have nothing to do but relax and enjoy the moment.

Seniors and children of all ages also participate in these marches, so this is the ideal time for the whole family to have a good time together. South Rio bands march in the afternoon. Gathering usually starts around 4 p.m.
Where the bands pass, streets are closed to traffic and bus routes are changed, to avoid the inevitable jam. Some bands attract as many as over 10,000 participants. Most bands also have official T-shirts for sale on the spot for about US$10, to help with the costs. They make great souvenirs, as they are sold only on Rio Carnival days.
more on evrything carnaval related here: http://www.rio-carnival.net/

Sunday, January 29, 2012

The Algodon Wine Estate and Champion's Lodge

The Algodon wine estate and champions lodge is decadence complete, with its private golf course. Some of the best luxury resorts and accomodation in Argentina can be found here: https://www.kiwicollection.com/hotel-detail/lodge-at-algodon-estates

 Photo copyright, Algodon Mansion.

Algodon Mansion in Buenos Aires posh neighbourhood of Recoleta Buenos Aires' embassy and luxury hotel district, Algodon Mansion is just a stroll away from the city's main shopping boulevards and a host of fine galleries plazas and museums.  Recoleta is the city's most elegant residential neighborhood, and its broad Jacaranda-lined avenues, brilliantly flash stunning purple in November. Patio Bullrich's shopping centre of fashionable boutiques, high-end restaurants and the ever-present, nearby cafés, art galleries, and opulent belle époque architecture have earned Buenos Aries the endearment; "The Paris of South America.". Algodon Mansion was recently voted number 8 in Andrew Harper's exclusive exposé, showcasing the clique of the world's top hideaways

Algodon Wine Bar 

Happy Hour ALL the week end with live music!
--------------
Happy Hour TODO el fin de semana con música en vivo!

Thursday / Jueves:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1073293532791205/
Friday / Viernes:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1790448974573801/
Saturday / Sábado:
https://www.facebook.com/events/198458813918294/

...but then there are plenty of jaw dropping, scenic options to choose from where you can savour the famous Mendozian Malbecs beneath the Andes.

The 2 bedroom units sleeps and has privacy for up to 4 people and comes with a full kitchen. The rates stated below are for full weeks only.

Friday, January 13, 2012

9 Beach Vacation Ideas - None of which are in South America

When it comes to go on your beach vacation, it can
be very hard to pick a destination.


 There are many places you can go, whether you want to explore the
beaches of Hawaii or just play golf in Georgia.
Below, you'll find 9 ideas to help you decide on where to go for your vacation.

1.  Hawaii resort

You can choose to put your frequent flier miles to
good use and take a beach vacation on the island of
Hawaii.  Here, you can relax on the beach, swim in
the ocean, play golf, and even indulge in one of
the many innovative spa treatments.  Hawaii enjoys
some of the best weather in the world - making it
a great choice for your beach vacation.

2.  Golf and Beach in Georgia
Popular among the East Coast, the Cloister at Sea Island in Georgia offers you 54 holes of championship golf, sandy beaches, and a wide array of things for you to do.

3.  Oahu beach vacation
At the Kahala Mandarin Oriental you can expect to be pampered like never before.  You can visit the spa, take scuba diving classes, or choose to swim it up with the dolphins.  The resort is conveniently located 15 minutes away from Honolulu and Waikiki
Beach.

4.  Virgin Islands vacation
At this vacation destination you can enjoy blue
waters and sandy beaches.  The Ritz Carlton, and
St. Thomas resorts offer you the best of luxury
hotels during your beach vacation in the Virgin
Islands.

5.  Half Moon Bay California
Located just 30 minutes by car away from San
Francisco, the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is a
quick beach vacation away from the normal busy life
of the city.

6.  Luxury Beach Resort of Bermuda
Two hours away by flight from New York City,
Bermuda is a quick and ideal vacation away from the
East Coast.  Ariel Sands offers you 47 guest rooms
with gourmet food and breathtaking views.

7.  Romance and seclusion in Jamaica
With unique rooms and splendid views of the
Caribbean, gourmet cuisine and amazing beaches,
The Caves resort in Jamaica helps to set the beach
vacation mood like never before.

8.  Lakeside Resort Georgia
Near Atlanta Georgia, the Lake Lanier Islands offers
a golf course for golf lovers and a waterpark with
several water rides, slides, and water attractions
the entire family will enjoy.

9.  Family fun in Hawaii
The Kona Village Resort in Hawaii offers you
several vacation activities that include snorkeling,
kayaking, sailing, volleyball, tennis, fishing,
scuba diving, and glass bottom boat tours.

That one was for the Yankees (pronounced SHANKEES), sorry for being facetious, I will do a South American top 9 one day...

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Costa Rica

MANDATORY ALL INCLUSIVE PROGRAM. USD$795 up to 2 people for the week. Program includes all meals and national beverages. ****All Inclusive prices are subject to change without previous notice, prices may increase no more than 15% of itscurrent value**** Established guidelines for passport use is changing. Please contact http://travel.state.gov/passport for more information.

Friday, July 15, 2011

The thin finger of water known as Loch Awe is a great place to take adventurous children. Search for cairns at Cladich, Port Sonachan and Ardchonnel. Marvel at crannogs; the roundhouses found round the lake are age-old communal dwellings. Learn about hydroelectric power at Cruachan Power Station.




Imagine life in a fortified castle, Kilchurn, Fraoch Eilean, Innisconnel and Fincharn. Tell tales of Scottish clans. Hike forested green hills. Kayak, row and fish.Kilchurn Castle
Alfredo De Simone
View all photos | More photo galleries 

Getting There Loch Awe is located in western Scotland and is situated 16 miles (26 km) from Inveraray and 25 miles (39 km) from Oban. The nearest airports are in Glasgow and Edinburgh. European low cost airlines service both cities. Loch Awe is best accessed from the A85, B840 or B845. Scottish Citylink and Scottish Rail connect Loch Awe with Glasgow and Edinburgh. Trains and buses en route to Oban stop at Dalmally and Loch Awe. Map It!
Google Maps
Planes, Trains & Buses
Momondo
National Rail
Scottish Citylink
Getting Around Loch Awe is a great place to explore by boat, bike and foot. There are numerous walking trails and several cycling routes in and around Loch Awe. Several are short and easy and many are family friendly. Boat hires are available in Ardbrecknish and Dalavich Marina. Brown trout, char, perch and pike are the principle catch in this fresh water lake. Loch Awe Walks
Loch Awe Community Website
Forestry Commission
When to Travel The best time of the year to visit western Scotland is from April to June. But don't expect endless days of warm sunshine. The weather in Scotland is fickle. It's as likely to be sunny as it is to be rainy. It's possible to experience more than one season in a single afternoon. The peak tourist season - July, August and Easter - is often crowded. Climate History & Weather Forecast
The Weather Channel
Weather Underground
Things to Keep in Mind Pack to dress in layers. Check the condition of the trail before setting out on a hike; they are often muddy after a rain. Loch Awe Attractions & ToursAttractionsCruachan Power StationToursLoch Awe Boats
Been to Loch Awe?    Write a review »Tell us about your trip »

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Cranberry Marsh Tours: Manitowish Waters Tour

Cranberry Marsh Tours, Manitowish Waters Be the first to rate!

A Cranberry Marsh Tour may not be an obvious choice for families yet this farm-like excursion is both educational and fun. Get a close up look at a cranberry bog. Discover a Northwoods industry. Sample food and drink made from cranberries. Learn about wetland ecology. Family Travel tips: Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce offers free guided tours of area bogs. Tours depart from the Manitowish Waters Community Center at 10: 00 am each Friday from mid-July to mid-October. Allow 90 minutes for the tour.

Manitowish Waters

View all photos | More photo galleries  Cranberry Marsh Tours trip planner Cranberry Marsh Tours reviews Create a Travel Itinerary Cranberry Marsh ToursP o. Box 251 Manitowish Waters, more things to see WIMap & doHotels AllCultureAdventureJust searchTravel style Attractions Refine Plain FunAge or the kids All8 & Older & 6 OlderAged 6-Under12 & 12Various AgesHotel AllHostel B&BHotel CabinsResort CampingRural type Tourism LodgeSelf-catering Click folder to activate. Tried Cranberry Marsh Tours?    Write a review»Tell us about your experience»

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

5 Beach Vacation Travel Ideas

Nothing in the world
 beats a family beach vacationWhether it's at a deluxe resort, or a simple campground on the beach, nice fire, fresh fish (maybe even smoked in your own smokehouse!)

Below, are some options on ways you might do your vacation searches:

1. Caribbean Beach Vacation Families flock to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for their all inclusives with watersports and kids clubs. But as mentioned in other posts make sure All-inclusive means just that! At some resorts the kids programs are outstanding, with separate leaders and activities for many different age groups. Pool complexes - some resorts have waterparks. The prices can be high, although they will drop from May to December. Hurricane season is in those months as well, although most resorts offer weather guarantees. (hahahahaha!)

2. Mexico Beach Vacation Even though tourists zip down to Mexico and do what they want at a condo or small hotel, beach vacations at all inclusive resorts are still the best way to go for families, especially if you`re not taking advantage of our special booking deals (Crazy, is a word that springs to mind.)

3. The Riviera Maya, an hour south of Cancun, has the second largest barrier reef in the world. It also has many activities for families to explore outside of the resort. You can rent a car, hire a taxi, or even take a public bus. Once there, you can hire a boat to drop you off on your own private island, WOW! make sure you explain the driver will probably get a tip if he comes back for you. We were sitting in the water in the rain and not overly worried that we had a few hour bus trip back so we could perform kids shows the next day and that we were completely alone for miles. But boy were we happy when we heard the put-put of the boat coming back for us.
4. Hawaii Beach Vacation When you go to Hawaii, you shouldn't expect to find all inclusive resorts in the Aloha state. Hawaii is known for lush luxury resorts, such as the Grand Wailea on Maui, or the properties on the Big Island's Kohala Coast. To find more affordable options in Hawaii, the Waikiki Beach area is breathtaking, fun for the entire family, and offers several different lodging options. Or try beautiful Hana Island, you just might meet me there! 

5. Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Vacation Possibly overall one of the best value places for a Cheap Holiday especially if you all goto Bangkok Smile to get your teeth checked-up, polished, wightened etc, more than pays for the holiday.Remember to sign up, because all preferred registrees go in the draw automatically for all special deals. With plenty of options available to you and your family, vacation ideas on the beach are always something to look forward to. There are many beaches out there, all you have to do is find the one that
fits your needs - and your budget.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Morocco   Merzouga  Merzouga & Erg Chebbi, Morocco

Whether you intend to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia, watch the sun rise or set over sand dunes, or share your campfire with a Tuareg, those mysterious desert men dressed in long robes and turbans, a trip to Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi in the Moroccan Sahara is a must for families interested in discovering the secrets of this vast and mystifying land.

Ride to the top of the Erg Chebbi dunes on a camel or a quad. Practice the art of climbing in the sand. Roll, slide or sand board nearly 200 meters (650 feet) down. Or wait until it gets dark to count the stars.

But there's more to the desert than sand dunes and camels. Merzouga is a great place to hunt for fossils and watch birds and desert wildlife. Head out to the fossil site on the road to Erfoud, and if you're lucky, discover bones or teeth of a Mosasaur. And while it almost never rains in Merzouga, in spring, a seasonal lake forms just northwest of the town. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the flamingos and migratory birds.

Merzouga Dunes

Berber

With a backdrop of the snow-clad peaks of the Atlas mountains and dominated by the magnificent Koutoubia minaret, Marrakesh conjures up images of desert caravans and colorful souks. Residence Amina will be an ideal center for a memorable holiday, located near the exclusive Avenue de France, less than a mile from the center of Marrakesh. The resort has a bar on the rooftop, which offer breathtaking views of the Atlas mountains, as well as a small outdoor swimming pool. Sports facilities are available at a charge in the Palmeraie complex, which is 9.3 miles from the resort. Passports are compulsory for non-nationals


To take advantage of these special member rates below
 Contact: Raymond E Lee

 The two bedroom units will sleep up to six people for the stated rates with privacy for 4 and all come with a partial kitchen facility.


For those families want ting to taste life in Morrocco this week stay rate makes it an excellent value place to base yourself whilst adventuring through the countryside.

	Studio	2 (2)	Partial	Sat 12-May-2012	Sat 19-May-2012	AUD 589.00
	Studio	2 (2)	Partial	Sat 28-Jul-2012	Sat 04-Aug-2012	AUD 789.00
	1 Bedroom	4 (2)	Partial	Sat 04-Aug-2012	Sat 11-Aug-2012	AUD 819.00
	2 Bedrooms	6 (4)	Partial	Sat 04-Aug-2012	Sat 11-Aug-2012	AUD 859.00
	Studio	2 (2)	Partial	Sat 03-Nov-2012	Sat 10-Nov-2012	AUD 589.00
	Studio	2 (2)	Partial	Sat 01-Dec-2012	Sat 08-Dec-2012	AUD 589.00
	2 Bedrooms	6 (4)	Partial	Sat 01-Dec-2012	Sat 08-Dec-2012	AUD 649.00
	2 Bedrooms	6 (4)	Partial	Sat 15-Dec-2012	Sat 22-Dec-2012	AUD 649.00
	1 Bedroom	4 (2)	Partial	Sat 22-Dec-2012	Sat 29-Dec-2012	AUD 619.00
	1 Bedroom	4 (2)	Partial	Sat 29-Dec-2012	Sat 05-Jan-2013	AUD 819.00

Urgent Information Mandatory fees Utility surcharge is 30 to 45 Euros. Policy Restrictions Pets are not accepted; could result in forfeiture of the unit and/or other penalties. Urgent Information Contact the resort after confirmation of the vacation to request any special needs during your stay. Fees or deposits are charged for some amenities.

Offer includes only accommodations and specifically excludes travel costs and other expenses that may be incurred. Taxes, additional fees and charges may apply. Other restrictions may apply. Offer void where prohibited by law.

Monday, May 09, 2011