Why should I choose a cruise over a different holiday?
There are numerous reasons why a cruise will outweigh other holidays. One of the main advantages to consider is that a cruise will take you to a number of places in one go as opposed to a traditional hotel holiday, and will also give you better value for your money. Aside from visiting a number of countries and cities, you will also be supplied with a broad range of entertainment, facilities and cuisines. Whether it be Cabaret in the Theatre or Cocktail making at the bar, there are copious options to keep you amused and engaged while on board the ship.

It may sound obvious but you will be grateful for it once you are settled in. You only need to unpack once. From then on, you will be brought to numerous exotic destinations and from there, can determine your dress code based on a particular day trip, dip in the pool or evening out. As opposed to your usual summer hotel holiday, you will have a chance to explore many destinations. Whether it be your summer getaway, changing your bikini as often as you visit a new city in Spain on a Mediterranean Cruise or your winter break, trying a new beer on arrival of each new pub in Norway on a Scandinavian Cruise.

Which cruise ship is right for me?
The diversity of what type of cruises are available to you is as broad as any other type of holiday! From travelling with kids to going on your honeymoon, to soaking up rays, to getting fit on water, there is a cruise ship for almost anything. We recommend choosing a cruise line to begin with so you can get a feel for the lifestyle and budget that they cater for. You will then be able to see what ships and destinations are available, helping you narrow down the choices.

The perks and quirks across ships can differ and vary greatly so it is important to check what amenities and entertainment are offered on each individual ship. For example, if you are travelling with small kids, you may opt for the Disney Cruise Line who offer an array of activities throughout the day for kids as well as adults. Or perhaps you are searching for a romantic get-away, Windstar Cruises offer adult-only sun decks and couples spa treatments.

Of course it is also a good idea to think about the climate of your trip and whether you are interested in cultural and historical aspects or not. If you like the idea of both, Mediterranean cruises to sunbathe in the middle of the ocean with a stop-off in Venice may be suitable. Or maybe your prefer to spend your trip spending each day at a cultural hot-spot location around Europe, using the ship merely as transport, and somewhere to sleep and eat.

What is accommodation like on cruises?
Your average room on a cruise ship will not differ greatly from an average hotel room. From a standard cabin you can expect comfortable beds, storage space, reading lamps, climate control, a telephone, television, personal safe, hair dryer and a desk for writing space. Usually cabins on large prestigious cruise ships are promoted as standard, ocean view, balconied, or suite, but there are minor variances between the classifications, just be sure you know what they are!

Usually, a cabin in the inner centre of the ship will be the cheaper option. A higher end room will almost always have a window facing outdoors, often with a balcony to let in a cool breeze during the night will tend to cost from 25-50% more than the price of of an inner cabin. You may be happy to settle for a budget room if you plan to spend a lot of time using the ship’s facilities or on land, but don’t forget you will usually spend a considerable amount of time on your cruise and will use your bedroom as a place to escape the busy ship, so make sure it’s comfortable enough for your standards.

Top Cruise Tips
As with any holiday, always pack a first-aid kit. You never know what bug you could contract whilst abroad so the essentials from your medicine cupboard at home won’t go amiss. For minor emergencies, or major for that matter, all cruise ships will have a doctor on board who will be available as and when you need should you need to seek medical attention at any point on your trip.

It is common courtesy and practise to tip on a cruise, however sometimes gratuities are automatically added on drink bills and can be as expensive as 15%. Check before you travel to ensure that you aware of the on-board tip policy to avoid surprise charges.

If you’re prone to sea or motion sickness, try and arrange to book a room or cabin that is on the lower ground and tending towards the middle of the ship where motion is minimised. If possible, a room with a balcony doesn’t go a amiss so you have the ability to go out for a breath of fresh air as and when you need it.

Whether you are going away for a special occasion such as a birthday or on your honeymoon, you will probably want to eat at one of the speciality restaurants aboard the ship at some point. There are usually a number of these to choose from but they can often become fully booked very early on the trip. To avoid disappointment, make sure that booking is one of the first things you do when you arrive on your ship. Having of course become accustomed to a map of the ship first.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and wish you the best of luck on a future cruise! In the mean time there are some great Twitter accounts for you to follow, to keep you up to date with the latest cruise tips, guides and offers:

@CruiseHive – latest cruising news, cruise ships, cruise deals & discuss cruises at the cruise forum
@sebdenCHUK – For all the expert advice you could need from considering to planning your cruise
@travjournalist – Cruise and travel industry journalist keeping you up to date with the latest cruise news
@CruiseLineFans – Read reviews, get advice and find the latest deals on cruises
@CruiseCritic – Helping you find and plan the perfect cruise with over 100,000 cruise reviews

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to get the latest tips and fresh guides @MyTravelMoneyUK

Written by Sofia Kluge on Google+

The post To cruise or not to cruise? appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

It’s 2012 and experiencing rural England on foot needn’t be hard work – or just for the intrepid back-packer.

Rambling through countryside decorated with apple trees, quaint cottages and wildlife-filled ponds should be a wondrous thing and, lucky for us, there’s a little place in the Cotswolds that makes it so – the village of Cowley.

Where to stay
The Green Dragon Inn in Cockleford is perfect for exploring Cowley and its gorgeous – and very green – surroundings, while ensuring your creature comforts.

The Inn dates back to the 18th century and was a former blacksmiths. Low ceilings, plentiful beams and one-of-a-kind carved furniture give this little pub its personality – as does the warm welcome and many an affectionate tale of regulars falling asleep at the bar!

In fact, once you’ve pulled up a pew, you might not want to leave either.

The building forms a split-level restaurant and two bars, one of which is the popular Mouse Bar – so called because of the little carved mice that adorn the bar and wooden stools.

The restaurant is out of this world and, understandably, it’s advisable to book for dinner most nights as the Inn’s gastronomic reputation is second to none.

Not your typical pub grub, the food is locally sourced – apart from the fish, of course – and lovingly prepared by resident chef Iain Dick, who really knows his stuff.

What to do
A local company, called Foot Trails, gives both guided and independent walking tours – tailor-made for each individual visitor.

How far you’d like to walk, whether you’re bringing the dog and whether you’d like to stay at more than one Inn are all things Foot Trails takes into consideration. The team will also provide you with all the maps you need – and even step-by-step directions.

Add to that a bespoke walking pack, with your own personal itinerary, multiple nature guides and more local information than you can shake a stick at and you’ll be an expert on Cowley and Cockleford in no time.

There’s also Cowley Manor, a gorgeous nearby hotel which is home to some seriously retro rooms and where you might decide to stop for lunch, which is highly recommended.

What’s more, guests of the Green Dragon are usually welcome to try out one of the Manor’s two heated swimming pools or book a treatment in the architecturally decadent spa.

Just steps from the spa are the pretty church and adjoining graveyard and there’s even a ghost walk that will take you on an eight-hour adventure from the cemetery around various other Cotswold haunts to come full circle – just in time for a drink at the Green Dragon!

And if wildlife’s your thing, the nearby woods and fields are full of red deer, llamas and wildflowers. To get up close and personal with the llamas, take a stroll to the nearby village of Stroud where you’ll find llama walking tours – or llama trekking as it’s otherwise known.

A half-hour drive from Cockleford will also take you to Slimbridge Wetland Centre, where you can hop on a bird safari and might even be lucky enough to spot a Kingfisher.

Slimbridge is also a good place to enjoy lunch overlooking the lochs or even try your hand at canal boating if you’re more nautically minded.

The post A guide to walking holidays in the Cotswolds appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

There are many brilliant things you will find only in Japan – not least the clean streets, beautiful landscapes, jaw-dropping pagodas, temples and shrines and more cherry blossom than you can imagine.

Another attraction you will only find in Japan is Kongobuji Temple – tucked away in the idyll precinct of Koyasan in the Wakayama prefecture. It has remained traditionally Japanese, even to this day and is one of the few religious precincts where you can really get to grips with what it’s like to lead a holy life – but perhaps the best thing about it is that none of it is out of bounds.

Here, MyTravelMoney.co.uk chief travel editor Lynda Hamilton tells us what it’s like to live with monks, how you can do it too and why she’ll never complain about the Scottish weather again…

“I’ve been sightseeing on a sacred mountain for seven hours and despite heat pads on my back, six layers of clothes, two chunky pairs of socks and snow boots, I have never been so cold in my life.

“I’m glad to arrive at my digs at Kongobuji Temple in Koyasan – only to discover that although my room is warm and comfortable, everywhere else in the building is freezing, partly because all the doors are open and the ground outside is covered in at least six inches of snow.

“It’s minus five degrees here on Mount Koya in south east Japan but it doesn’t seem to bother the half-a-dozen Buddhist monks who live here – including 38-year-old Hudiji Douran.

“Hudiji sits in simple robes with a presence so intense that I hold my breath in awe and – probably all too obviously – hang on his every word. He soon gives me a familiarisation tour – of the basic rooms, the temple itself and of the communal baths. Then, before he serves my group our strictly vegetarian meal of tofu and seaweed, Hudiji takes the time to answer some of my questions about his life here at the head temple of the Koyasan precinct.

“I’m surprised to learn that not only does he eat meat, take the occasional sup of beer and have girlfriends, but that his second big passion is Manga. His day is long and hard, though. He wakes at 5.30am – sometimes earlier – to start his cleaning duties and doesn’t rest until it’s approaching midnight and all his chores are done.

“It’s hard to believe that this humble man was once a student – born in Osaka – and although he was ordained nearly 18 years ago, has only ever completed 100 days training. It’s also hard to believe that he’s 38. His skin and teeth are immaculate; he’s slim, good looking and unintentionally charming.

“But, like most Japanese men, he’s shy. He actually blushes when I ask his name, age and whether he’s allowed to date.

‘I can marry and have a family whenever I choose,’ he says with a grin. ‘And I have friends from all over the world because of the number of foreign visitors we get here.’

“But Hudiji is quick to point out that he’s single and that these are all choices for him to make. He tells me that the monks are encouraged to choose their own paths and that there are many families living at the temple.

“He explains that only the head abbot is forbidden from taking a wife as he is closest to Buddha. I then learn that Hudiji’s motivation for studying esoteric Buddhism came after his father died.

‘I felt like my father was calling me,’ he explains.

“He chose to be ordained at 21 but, before he settled at Kongobuji 18 months ago, Hudiji tried out a number of manufacturing and consultancy jobs in the city before he finally realised his true calling.He gets two days off a month which he spends reading but, even then, he must forfeit his free time each morning and night for the twice-daily service.

“I’m lucky enough to sit in on the one-and-a-half-hour service the next morning which starts at 6am. I gather in the dimly-lit temple, powered only by lanterns and candles, along with other travellers and Japanese nuns who sit beside me on the red carpet with their prayer beads and sutras.

“The head abbot joins the resident monks, who are already seated around the shrine, including an apprentice and, of course, Hudiji. Their repetitive chanting is like acapella and I’m not sure whether it’s the heady scent of incense, in which I’ve been purified, or the sight of these golden-robed holy men, but the constant hum becomes very comforting and makes me feel incredibly warm and fuzzy inside.

“The monks are worshiping Kobo-Daishi, or Prince Kukai, who they believe entered eternal meditation in 835AD and is now encased in the mausoleum, which can be seen through the small window at the centre of the shrine. Kobo-Daishi was the founder of Shingon Buddhism and is said to live on – therefore part of the monks’ daily routine is to prepare fresh food for him which is first offered to the deity ‘Jizo’ at one of the Shinto shrines in the temple grounds.

“I’m also lucky enough to witness this ritual which occurs twice a day. Monks prepare the food wearing surgical masks to avoid contamination from their breath, which they believe is dirty.

“Once the offering is made to Jizo, the monks carry a wooden box filled with fresh food to the main temple to present to Kobo-Daishi. Only then can they eat themselves.

“Before I leave for the big city again – and, of course, once I’ve tried a communal bath – Hudiji bids my group farewell and thanks us for making the journey out to Koyasan. It’s then that I realise that in this one night it has been quite a journey.

“But Kongobuji is just one of 52 temples in the Koyasan precinct offering night lodging to travellers, although it’s one of only eight or nine to remain traditionally Japanese and completely un-Westernised. Guests are welcome at any time and the door is, quite literally, always open.

“Anyone can go and experience a night living with the monks and although the two places are worlds apart, Koyasan is no more than an hour’s drive from Osaka. At 9,500 yen (around £70) for sole occupancy per night, the inn at the head temple is quite expensive, but it’s the experience that you’re paying for. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn first-hand about esoteric Buddhism in Japan and take part in the monks’ daily rituals.

“You can get a reduced rate if you share a room with your fellow travellers and the rooms are easily spacious enough to sleep up to five adults. Rooms are basic but heated and beds are typical Ryokan style on the floor. The communal bath is split into male and female sections and the hot tub is usually welcomed after a day out in Koyasan – although it isn’t always so cold. The best time to visit is in summer but try to avoid the Aoba-san festival on June 15, which is Kobo-Daishi’s birthday – it gets very busy indeed!

“Many of the buildings in the temple precinct are World Heritage Sites and have existed, untouched, for as much as 500 years. They’re set in hundreds of acres of tranquil forest and the entire area is a popular pilgrimage site of the Japanese. Even the vermillion Daimon Gate – through which travellers enter Koyasan from the road – is a sight to behold. The Shinto gate is protected on both sides by wooden Kongo warriors who tower feet above those who enter and really have to be seen to be believed.

“Other must-sees while you’re there include the Konpondaito Pagoda, which enshrines five sacred images of Buddha, and the Banryutei Rock Garden at Kongobuji Temple which is the largest in Japan – but they really need no introduction and are pretty hard to miss.

“And of course there’s so much more to do in Koyasan besides visiting its temples. There are plenty of hiking and walking trails for you to explore this stunning area of Japan which is home to wild monkeys, mountain hares and even bears. You’ll also find plenty of shops, restaurants, coffee, shops and bars – and you’ll feel very much like you’ve escaped off the beaten track.”

Lynda’s fact file:

Getting there

• The easiest way to travel to Koyasan is by train. It’s a 90-minute journey by rail from Osaka’s Namba Station to Gokurakubashi on the Nankai Koya line. A cable car will then take you from Gokurakubashi up the mountain to Koyasan. Or, if you’re as intrepid as some Japanese tourists, you can climb the mountain yourself – it should only take you five hours or so!

• Koyasan is also within easy travelling distance of other prefectures in the Kansai district, including Nara, Kyoto and Kobe and, again, the easiest route is by train.

• Once you’re there – and if you’d prefer – you can hire a local English-speaking guide from the Tourist Information Office although it’s advisable to phone ahead and book.
What to expect

• Expect to change your footwear a lot – especially when visiting temples and shrines, dining and going to the bathroom. Japanese land was traditionally very wet and shoes were changed to avoid spreading disease – a ritual that’s still upheld today.

• The price of a night’s lodgings at Kongobuji Temple includes breakfast, dinner and drinks but bear in mind that the only alcohol available is sake and beer.

• Although the monks occasionally eat meat, all meals served to their guests are strictly vegetarian and many of the restaurants in the area respect the same tradition.

Always Change your GBP into Yen before you travel at MyTravelMoney.co.uk for the best savings on currency.

The post Bunking up with monks: One night at Kongobuji Temple appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Here’s her account of travelling by coach with Leger Holidays to Fiuggi and beyond.…

“Mention 48 hours on a coach and most people want to run for the hills – but not us. My daughter, Hannah, and I are always up for anything and, recently, this included a bum-numbing ride from Dundee to Rome. In fact, we went 65km further than Rome to the spa town of Fiuggi.

“But our adventure started long before we reached our destination and I still can’t think of another way we could’ve enjoyed supper in France, breakfast in Switzerland and dinner in Italy within the same 24 hours. I’ll never forget cappuccino and pastries against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps in Bellinzona – an unforgettable experience.

“Only Fools and Horses, along with the pay-bar facility (just for me, of course), saw us the rest of the way to Fiuggi, via Reims and the Gotthard Tunnel. But this was no ordinary coach. This was Silver Service, with reclining seats and a leather-clad lounge at the rear. Not only that, but the cabaret act (provided by our drivers) was first class.

“That said, we were glad to arrive in Fiuggi and wasted no time finding a pizzeria, sampling the gelato and settling ourselves into the main piazza to watch the evening’s comings and goings, which included open-air ballroom dancing from the elderly locals.

“Our first excursion, the very next day, was to Pompeii which, of course, was amazing. It wasn’t quite what we expected and we were surprised to find that, after admiring some basic ruins, the amphitheatre, and some native grey lizards, we were disappointed with Old Pompeii because once you’ve seen a few piles of old bricks, you’ve seen them all. But it’s still one to tick off your bucket list.

“Luckily, we faired better in Rome, admiring the Vatican, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps – not to mention the tacky souvenir shops and fantastic Latin restaurants serving Argentinian steak which, according to the locals, are among the best you can find in the Italian capital.

“We chased Catholic priests (only for a photo, you understand) and caught up with Italian tenor Gianluca Paginelli after a cat and mouse chase through Rome, only to find that he was waiting outside the one McDonalds in Rome we hadn’t visited yet.

“The next day, we journeyed to Sorrento, where we spent the day browsing the shops and sampling the lemon slush and, of course, for me – limoncello. And I have to say that, if you want shopping, Sorrento is the place to be. We shopped till we dropped, visited haunts of famous folk and snapped up Sorrento football strips – don’t ask me why.

“Fellow coach travellers had paid the extra and opted for a tour of Capri – favoured island of the rich and famous. But, for us, Sorrento really cut the mustard. We took a tram ride up into the hills and admired the stunning view of the Bay of Naples and shopped for authentic olive oil and lemons in the most rustic of stores.

“Evenings were spent on the veranda sipping drinks and soaking up the atmosphere before retiring to our typically Italian rooms – bugs in the shower and great, big, day-light forbidding shutters on the windows.

“But all too soon, it was time for our return trip – another 48 hours home to Scotland. It was a long haul to gear up for but, if the question is, ‘would I do it again?’ then the answer is ‘yes’ – without a moment’s hesitation!

“This coach trip had made an impression on me – not least because of the friends we met and camaraderie we enjoyed along the way. The journey was filled with adventure, from start to finish, but I’m saving that for the book

“So my message to avid fellow travellers is… try something different, something out of your comfort zone, and you might just be surprised – even with kids in tow. Even the most bum-numbing of rides can be a dream.”

Lynda’s fact file:

1) Silver Service coach travel between Dundee and Fiuggi was courtesy of  Leger Holidays– one of the few UK operators to provide luxury coach travel between the UK and Europe.

2) The seven-day package included return travel between Scotland and Italy, four nights’ accommodation in Fiuggi on a B&B basis, and excursions to Pompeii, Rome and Sorrento.

3) Montecassino Abbey is included as an extra excursion en route to Pompeii.

4) Pick up points for the same trip are available throughout Scotland, England and Wales and an excursion to the island of Capri can be added to your itinerary for around an extra 200 Euros.

But don’t forget to change your currency before you travel. MyTravelMoney.co.uk has the best rates.

For more information, visit Leger Holidays or call 0844 504 6251.

The post Another 48 hours: Long haul that’s really worth the coach trip appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.