A Little Travel Humour

THESE ARE ACTUAL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED

BY “THOMAS COOK VACATIONS”

FROM DISSATISFIED CUSTOMERS:

Ø     “I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local convenience store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts.”

Ø     “It's lazy of the local shopkeepers in Puerto Vallarta to close in the afternoons.  I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time -- this should be banned.”

Ø     “On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry.  I don't like spicy food.”

Ø     “We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels.  We assumed it would be included in the price.

 

Ø     “The beach was too sandy.  We had to clean everything when we returned to our room.”

 

Ø     “We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure.  Your brochure shows the sand as white but it was more yellow.”

Ø     “They should not allow topless sunbathing on the beach.  It was very distracting for my husband who just wanted to relax.”

 

Ø     “No-one told us there would be fish in the water.  The children were scared.”

 

Ø     “Although the brochure said that there was a fully equipped kitchen, there was no egg-slicer in the drawers.”

Ø     “We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish.”

 

Ø     “The roads were uneven and bumpy, so we could not read the local guide book during the bus ride to the resort.  Because of this, we were unaware of many things that would have made our holiday more fun.”

 

Ø     “It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England.  It took the Americans only three hours to get home.  This seems unfair.”

 

Ø     “I compared the size of our one-bedroom suite to our friends' three-bedroom and ours was significantly smaller.”

 

Ø     “The brochure stated: ‘No hairdressers at the resort.’  We're trainee hairdressers and we think they knew and made us wait longer for service.”

 

Ø     “There were too many Spanish people there.  The receptionist spoke Spanish, the food was Spanish.  No one told us that there would be so many foreigners.”

 

Ø     “We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning.”

 

Ø     “It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel.”

 

Ø     “I was bitten by a mosquito.  The brochure did not mention mosquitoes.”

 

Ø     “My fiancé and I requested twin-beds when we booked, but instead we were placed in a room with a king bed.  We now hold you responsible and want to be re-reimbursed for the fact that I became pregnant.  This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked.”

 What more is there to say?       If you travel to another country, DO NOT expect it to be exactly like home. If you want everything to be the same, stay home !!!!

Alaska

7 day Cruise on Holland America

Ship----Amsterdam

July 2013

 

Day one

A good flight on West Jet from Toronto to Vancouver and we pick up our luggage at Vancouver Airport. Here we are met by the Holland America greeter and directed to our shuttle.

Holland America Amsterdam is ready and waiting at the dock where we begin our 1833 NM (nautical miles) journey. Sun is shining brightly and the temp is mid 20’s C.

Boarding is quick and easy and we find our stateroom on the Promenade deck 3. How convenient for us, since we spend a great deal of time walking on the promenade deck, this will be very handy! We have a lovely view of Vancouver skyline from the ship and we pass Stanley Park as we leave the port.

                                                       Atrium on board ship

 

Ship departs on time and we travel out of Vancouver and through the Seymour Narrows. The Sail-away party is in the Crow’s nest and the featured drink is the Gold Diggers Punch. Small samplings of Salmon fingers and Venison herb crusted sausage add to the ambience.

 

Day two

Up early next morning and after a wonderful buffet breakfast on the Lido deck, we are back outside for a day at sea. Whale spouts could be seen in the distance.

 

 The location guide Benjamin gives a lecture on the trip and the days ashore as well as some of the wildlife. Most interesting and informative and then back outside to watch the beautiful scenery as we make our way north.

Weather is a sunny 23C

Tonight’s entertainment is Northern Lights and it is most enjoyable.

 

Day three

Juneau, our first port and we arrive at 12:45 p.m. Weather is sunny and a balmy 25C so we can’t wait to go ashore.  We are surprised to learn that Juneau, the capital of Alaska has no road access and is accessible only by sea or air. We are also surprised that the population is only 36,000.

Off the ship, we head straight for the cable car, Mount Roberts Tramway. We travel  an 1800 foot ascent in “Eagle” car to a point about three quarters of the way to the top and here we leave the cable car for the trails. The visitor center offers some spectacular views of Juneau below, Douglas Island and Gastineau Channel as well as the Chilkat mountains. We begin our hike in a sub alpine meadow and head up the trail toward the summit.

 

After our hike we relax with a bottle of Alaskan Amber beer in the Timberline Bar and then attend the Chilkat Theater for a Tlingit heritage and history docudrama, Seeing Daylight. Most informative and very entertaining and the price of the theater is included in the cost of the tram ride. For $30 it is a very good deal !  Satisfied, we head down the mountain to tour Juneau.

 

I am afraid Juneau was a little disappointing. Souvenir shops and jewellery stores and not much more,  so we wandered back to the dock and had dinner on the ship. After dinner, we disembarked and took a nice walk along the water and watched huge salmon swimming in the water below a bridge.

 

Day four

Next morning we arrive in Skagway and again the sky is clear, sunny and the temperature is 25C. After breakfast we disembark to meet our guide for a Chilkoot Trail hike and raft down the river. Derrick is funny and well informed and we know we will have a great time. The Chilkoot Trail was the main route to the riches of the Klondike and today is an invigorating rough terrain, hike through rainforest, alive with birds, animals, wild flowers and edible plants. The 40 minute raft ride took us past granite fjord walls, snow- capped peaks and hanging glaciers. Both the hike and the river rafting are great fun and we are very pleased that we chose this excursion.

Bald Eagle nest

Once back in Skagway, we walked the streets and enjoyed the original wooden boardwalk and historic store fronts.

Back on the ship,  tired but happy, we ate dinner and then spent the evening being entertained by comedian, Rod Long.

 

Day five

Cruising Tracy Arm, this was my favorite day!  The ship entered the fjord at 8 a.m. and we sailed past some of the most gorgeous scenery imaginable. Weather was cooler but the sun shone brightly.  Chucks of ice floated by and the water was a beautiful turquoise, making our view from our rail side vantage point, spectacular. Holland America has a tradition of serving Dutch Pea Soup out on the promenade deck and I must say;  it was delicious. At 11:11 a.m. we arrived at the Sawyer Glacier and we were truly impressed by both the size and the beautiful blue colour of the ice. The crowd oohed and aahed as a chunk of glacier calved and fell into the sea.

We departed Tracy Arm at 2 p.m, most impressed with all that we had seen.

The entertainment this evening was Rich Purpura, and he was very funny-A great ending to a wonderful day.

 

Day Six

Ketchikan, appeared in a mist of fog but before the ship docked, the sky was clear and the sun was shining. Historic downtown Ketchikan offers the Tongass Historical Museum, the Chief Johnson totem pole, Whale park and Chief Kyan totem and of course, the famous original Creek Street. After exploring for a few hours we walked to the Totem Heritage center just outside of town. On the way, we passed a stream overflowing with Salmon and we were fortunate enough to watch a Bald Eagle swoop down for a tasty snack.

Later in the day we went to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and it was most entertaining. A real Alaskan treat and highly recommended, we thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

Day Seven

At sea, on our return to Vancouver under sunny skies and temps around 17 C, we spent many hours on the deck watching the scenery.  Several whales were spotted as we travelled through the Discovery Passage.  Great final entertainment show by the singers and dancers of the Amsterdam and we knew our cruise was coming to an end. As we prepared to retire, more than fifty Dall’s porpoise swam and cavorted beside the ship giving us a final farewell from Alaska.

Dock in Vancouver at 7:15 a.m. where we are met by our shuttle to the airport.

 

This was our second cruise with Holland America and we are looking forward to travelling with them again in the future. Food, accommodation, entertainment and service are all excellent and the ports of call are well thought out and convenient to the port.

 

 

Hiking in the Finger Lakes N. Y.

Short Getaways

Four days in New York Finger Lakes Region

Hiking

 

Only four hours from our home in Ontario, the idea of hiking three of the most beautiful state parks in New York was a definite destination for us.

We booked a hotel in Hornell, which was central for all of the planned activities.

 Tuesday we drove from home and it rained most of the way to Hornell. Once we arrived, the rain stopped and after unpacking we headed for our first destination, Stony Brook State Park. It was only about a twenty minute drive from the hotel.

The 577 acres of Stony Brook State Park have an interesting history. Seneca Indians hunted and fished here long before the Europeans arrived over 150 years ago. In 1883, the construction of a railroad encouraged visitors to Stony Brook. In 1920 the park fell into disrepair but was established as a state park and during the 30’s was quickly revived as a Federal public works project.

 

There are three main trails, the Gorge, the West Rim and the East Rim. Large stone steps, which look like a giant’s staircase lead to the top of the gorge. Hikers should be aware of the uphill climb, it is challenging unless you are a seasoned hiker. We followed the Gorge Trail past some beautiful waterfalls and interesting shale cliffs. 

 

The Gorge Trail meets the West Rim Trail just before the parking lot in the Upper park area.  The park offers camping, picnicking and has a great natural swimming pool.

 

Day two, we awoke to clouds and scattered showers so we decided to head to Watkins Glen State Park. It was about an hour’s drive from our hotel and luckily, the rain stopped before we arrived at the park.

Watkins Glen is a spectacular narrow gorge where you can hike alongside Glen Creek past deep pools, water sculptured rocks and nineteen waterfalls. During the past million years, water in the form of giant mounds of ice, or glaciers transformed the landscape. The park has been opened since 1906.

We passed through the tunnel entrance and began our ascent on the Gorge Trail. Visitors should be reminded that there is a shuttle bus available for those that find the climb too challenging and an easier hike down the gorge from the top can be achieved without much difficulty. We hiked up the gorge, past Sentry Bridge and on to Cavern Waterfall which you actually walk behind the falls on your climb. Pictures can never show the true beauty but perhaps they will tempt you to go and see these parks for yourself.

At Suspension Bridge you can access Lily Pond, the South pavilion and the swimming pool, or you can do as we did and continue on the Gorge trail under the suspension bridge. Next comes the Narrows where the gorge has it’s own microclimate similar to the rainforest. At the top of the next staircase is Glen Cathedral and it is an extraordinary sight. Drought resistant grasses, wildflowers and shrubs grow on the ledges.

Central Cascade and Glen of Pools feature the highest waterfall, at more than 60 feet. Rainbow Falls allows another opportunity to walk under the falls. Beyond the bridge, enter a dark and narrow passage with dripping springs, ancient sculptured pools and Pluto Falls. At the top of the trail there are restrooms and a snack bar. We continued down the Indian Trail for a forest hike back to the entrance.

 

Day three, and the weather is beautiful. Now we travel about forty minutes north to Letchworth State Park, a 14,350 acre park along the Genesee River. Precipitous walls of the Gorge with the river winding below, dramatic waterfalls and the beauty of the surrounding forest make this park an excellent hiking experience.

 Known as the “Grand Canyon of the East” the park’s story began when Mr. William Pryor Letchworth first purchased the building and surrounding one hundred acres in 1859. Over the next fifty years, Mr. Letchworth developed Glen Iris Inn and the surrounding grounds into the spectacular location that it is now. The property was deeded to the state of New York in 1907. On the ridge behind the Inn stands a restored Seneca Council House and a statue of Mary Jemison. The park offers camping, picnicking and a Trout pond for fishing. The Inn and museum are definitely worth a visit.

We took the seven mile Gorge Trail in order to enjoy all of the Upper, Middle and Lower Fall areas.

The day passed quickly as we hiked along the beautiful gorge and through the lovely forest.

Tired but pleased with ourselves, we returned to the hotel to pack for home.


 

 

Golf Getaway to Clare Michigan

SHORT GETAWAYS

Watch for more short getaways.

 

Golf Getaway THREE DAYS

Doherty Hotel, Clare, Michigan

Golf   Eagle Glen

 

This was our second visit to the Doherty Hotel and definitely not our last.

I would highly recommend the Doherty Hotel, Golf package to anyone looking for an excellent getaway. Located in Clare, Michigan, the historic Doherty Hotel built in 1924, is conveniently located in the center of town. Family owned since inception and now run by the fourth generation, guests will find the facility clean and the staff friendly. The hotel has 157 upgraded, well- appointed rooms, indoor pool and Jacuzzi, Banquet and conference facilities, restaurant and lounge. Some rooms have fireplaces, refrigerators and private Jacuzzis.  Our choice of Deluxe queen,  included refrigerator, coffee maker, ironing board, hair dryer and of course, FREE internet.  The breakfast was excellent. Served buffet style or you can choose from a limited menu, the food was hot, well prepared and delicious. Our compliments to the omelette chef !

The hotel is central to fifteen excellent golf courses featuring a variety of “links type” courses, or rolling hills and beautiful treed fairways.  The package includes Unlimited Golf on one course each day. A cart is included for the first 18!  A full breakfast is provided with overnight accommodations. The hotel is happy to accommodate groups of 2 to 20 or more golfers. The sales staff is very helpful and willing to coordinate your needs and tee times. We played Eagle Glen and were impressed by the excellent condition of the course.

 

Buck's Run

 

Our entire package, which included three nights’ accommodation, three breakfasts and two rounds of golf was less than $400 for two people.  Prices vary with each custom tailored package.

 

This hotel is not just for golfers. They offer packages for romantic getaways, hike and bike, and of course, the Soaring Eagle Casino is within 30 minutes drive from the hotel.

 

Clare, Michigan is like a walk back in time. The quaint store lined street takes visitors back to the 1950’s with its old movie theater complete with incandescent light bulb marquee, small shops and excellent burger restaurants. Our favorite was Dairy Phil, sixty years in business, which is located at the north end of town across from the family owned grocery store. The ice cream is out of this world and the burger and fries for less than $7 was delicious. Sitting outside at the roadside picnic table, watching vintage cars go by,  took us back in time and we enjoyed our visit immensely. One must visit the Cops and Doughnuts Bakery across from the hotel.

 

A great getaway,  about two hours from the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia/Port Huron.

 

 

For more info: Doherty Hotel

604 North McEwan, Clare, Michigan 48617

www.dohertyhotel.com 

info@DohertyHotel.com

 

Shirley A Roe is a Senior Contributor for TripAdvisor.