An English country house stay with HF Holidays

Harrington House, Burton on the Water

An invitation for a stay in a country house may  not be part of my solo trips to Britain, but          HF Holidays can  make this a reality.

2014 marks 100 years of walking, house stays and holiday events for more than 50,000 visitors. 

My day visit to Harrington House was arranged by HF Holidays so I could investigate if this solo traveler would fit into a country house stay.

London is a solo friendly city:  museums, theater, solo friendly restaurants and activities to fill your days.  Day trips via train, bus or auto take you to towns from Dover, Bath, Land's end, Leeds, Oxford, Wincester, the list is endless.  

While scanning the HF Holiday catalogue I imagined charming villages, stone houses, friendly locals and the perfect tea house.
My love affair with England goes back many years.

                                     
                                         The lounge allows places to chat or read or play a game of cards

Communal dining allows you to meet the other guests.

Taking the train from Paddington Station in London, to Oxford for a quick change to
the local train for Moreton in Marsh.  This is my first look at a Cotswolds village!   The train arrived late so I missed the hourly bus to my destination of Bourton-on-the-Water to visit Harrington HouseHF Holidays 

Solo Traveler has a great resource for Solos

If you travel solo or wish you did,
you should know Janice Waugh
and Solo Traveler
Solo Traveler                

Solo travel tips, destinations, stories... the blog for those who travel alone.

    
sign up with www.http://solotravelerblog.com/



Janice has compiled suggestions from readers on where to stay around the world......enjoy.

http://solotravelerblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/The-Solo-Traveler-Accommodation-Guide.pdf

Tip, where to store luggage in Rome

When in Rome or Puglia you can leave your bag with Bag-Free
You can have your luggage picked up and delivered to you at the train or airport

http://hometoitaly.blogspot.com/2014/12/dont-drag-your-bag-through-rome.html

Americans won't walk

I share with my European colleagues and friends that most Americans drive wherever they go....often because we live outside of a town or city. 

We drive for lunch at the local fast food restaurant and eat in our cars, drive for a coffee, drive to the bank and now even CVS (drug store) lets you drive up to a window to pick up prescriptions.

Some of you may remember the Drive In movies that are all but gone from the American landscape.

Well yesterday after a week of cold and rain, the people at Myrtle Beach SC came out to walk!

 I come to walk or sit and read at the beach most days when I am here but except for summer months I have never seen so many people

And they were in 'packs' almost like lemmings following each other all in the SAME direction....but that may have been because the sun was much warmer walking south.

So Americans will WALK if you give us somewhere to walk.

Destinations for Solo Female Travlers

Thanks to Vanessa Chiasson for allowing me to share this with my readers



10 Amazing Destinations for Solo Female Travelers

9/3/2013

9 Comments

 

Traveling solo for the first time? These are 10 of my favourite destinations.

In honour of International Women's Day on March 8th, and the #WeGoSolo twitter chat, here are 10 amazing destinations  that are perfect for a first time, solo female travelers.

I've been to them all and I can heartily endorse them. I've traveled in North America, Africa, and Europe, and I feel very sure there are many other cities around the world which would be perfect for a new explorer.

Which one sounds like the place for you?

1.) Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

This small, affordable, cozy provincial capital city is perched on the edge of the ocean. It has a great arts scene for a tiny city - there is a small independent cinema, crafts stores, artisans, and the renowned plays at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Spend the days sitting by the harbour, sketching, painting, or writing. At night, take in a play, enjoy the freshest seafood from the Atlantic Ocean, and indulge in delicious east coast baked goods.

Read the balance of this great article here:

http://www.turnipseedtravel.com/blog/10-amazing-destinations-for-solo-female-travelers

More promises for solo travelers..........I want to see results

Just saw this to share.............but when will the industry catch up with the HUGE market of travelers they are ignoring?

as seen in THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE

TRAVEL

Single-friendly cruises to make waves in 2015!

PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 19, 2014 01:40 PM

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Standard cruise vacations are being enriched with creative add-ons like unique dining experiences, land excursions and private lessons to help build more personalised experiences for cruisers. ― AFP picOSLO, Dec 19 ― In 2015, Norway and Australia will become popular cruising destinations while the industry will cater to solo travellers by eliminating the traditional “single supplement” that penalises those who cruise alone.

These are among some of the trends predicted to define the cruising industry in 2015 by experts at Cruise Critic, which calls itself the world’s largest online cruise resource.

Editor-in-chief Carolyn Spencer Brown notes that the cruise industry is beginning to model itself after the traditional land resort, in which guests pay a base rate for their room and can tack add-ons to their vacation package.

Likewise, cruise lines are getting creative and developing innovative add-on features to enrich the cruising experience, a strategy meant to woo first-time cruisers who are already comfortable with the scheme.

“Where cruising has the advantage is in the number of inclusions already part of the base cruise fare ― lodging, meals, entertainment ― so it's exciting to see lines focusing on improving the basics and adding more options,” Brown said.

Here are some of the trends expected to make waves in 2015:

Add-ons

Standard cruise vacations are being enriched with creative add-ons like unique dining experiences, land excursions and private lessons to help build more personalised experiences for cruisers. Crystal Cruises, for instance, has created a half-day excursion for “Game of Thrones” fans that takes guests to key filming locations in Northern Ireland.

Year-round deals

While January-March has traditionally been the high season for scoring cruise deals, expect to see deals outside the sale period.

Internet

While high-speed internet has been a challenge for the industry, cruise lines have been working frantically to try and deliver faster, more reliable service for their highly connected customers, notably their millennial and Gen X base. Recently, Carnival Corporation announced that it had found a way to bring high-speed internet to their ships thanks to a hybrid network that taps into land, air and sea.

Solo travellers

Cruise lines are recognising that solo travelers make up a coveted market with disposable income to spend, such as PANKs, “Professional Aunt, No Kids.” Expect more cruise lines to build packages to cater to the single traveller, either by eliminating the traditional single supplement, or by creating special lounges for the singles onboard.

Entertainment

Onboard entertainment is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Cruise lines are tapping Grammy award-winning artists, and staging Broadway and Cirque-style shows for cruisers with sophisticated tastes.

Cruise Critic is a subsidiary of TripAdvisor. ― AFP-Relaxnews 

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/travel/article/single-friendly-cruises-to-make-waves-in-2015#sthash.8dDmz5qd.dpuf

Solo Trip over Christmas

While escaping my home base for the month of December I decided to turn the month into a search for solo friendly activities during a major holiday.

My goal was to find 5 solo friendly events while staying near a beach resort that attracts 'snow birds' from as far as Canada.


1.  Go to an outdoor market

Many towns have holiday markets, craft shows, handicraft sales that are featured before the holidays.     My timing did not match the schedule but I was able to attend a great river side market in North Carolina, only 45 min from where I am staying.


Outdoor Market in Southport, NC





 About an hour north of my location, Southport is located on the shore with a stunning water view from the entire town.   I met four interesting strangers (vendors) during my visit.  We speak to strangers every day but often we do not ask questions or listen to what they say.

Gullah Baskets:  
there is a long history behind the hand woven baskets of South Carolina.  (see Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=gullah+baskets&go=Go

No Solo Supplements on select sailings as reported in Travel Weekly

Just posted on Google. Thank you Travel Weekly.

  Fred Olsen removes solo supplement on a few cruises.

 

If you think it is time for all cruise lines to eliminate the solo supplement why not contact your favorite cruise line and tell them?

Article is available here:
http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2014/12/10/51445/fred-olsen-abolishes-single-supplements-on-festive-cruises.html


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Fred Olsen abolishes single supplements on festive cruises

By Phil Davies |10 December 2014 at 08.32 GMT

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Single supplements have been abolished on selected Fred Olsen Cruise Lines voyages this winter.

The special ‘no single supplement’ deals mean that solo passengers occupying a twin cabin will pay the same per person rate as a couple.

The deal covers a pre-Christmas mini cruise on Black Watch (pictured) from Tilbury to Zeebrugge on December 18 with prices starting at £198.

A 16-night Northern Lights cruise from Tilbury on December 20 starts at £2,064.

A 13-night Canary Islands and Caribbean fly-cruise on Braemar departing on December 30 leads in at £1,499.

The People You Meet On The Road

I continue to tell anyone who will listen,
that you never know who you will meet if you
just keep an open mind.

Out shopping this week I spoke with one of the employees to find he is a writer, a poet to be precise.  So today I am featuring  Adrian T Pearson, better known as The Prolific Penman.

Below is his bio.  Who knew he was so accomplished and famous?

My name is Adrian T. Pearson I am also known as The Prolific Penman. This is a name chosen

for me by God when it was introduced to me I questioned could I live up to what the title meant,

 as time passed I came to see that the name not only fit me but it was who I had grown into.

The more I spoke it the bolder I became. The Prolific Penman is my new lease on life this name is not just a representation of me but another testament as to what God can do if you are willing to be obedient to him. My faith in God and in myself has allowed me to write from pain, anger, fear, love and hope; all of these emotions have pushed me to become a fighter. This is not just a name change but a movement, poetry is only the start of better things to come for me

Twelve years ago poetry helped me find myself, saved me from depression and allowed me to define one of many calling that God has for my life. I have been awarded the International Who's Who for Poetry for 2012, I am also published with The World Poetry Movement.  I was also selected as the best Poet for 2012 by The World Poetry Movement as well and in October 2013, I graduated from college while being homeless.  You can follow me or checkout my blogs  on Facebook under https://www.facebook.com/prolificscorner,  or at http://theprolificpenman.wordpress.com/  you can also  read some of my recent work at http://theprolificpenman.poetrycraze.com,  
For more information and event bookings contact theprolificpenman@gmail.com or 770-376-7638.

So the next time you pass up the opportunity to chat with someone or say more than 'how are you' without really caring what the answer is, think twice.  There could be an amazing person behind that smile.

Eating in an ancient Church: St Bartholomews London: Cafe is not the same

The striking interior will draw me back on every trip, even if the cafe is not worth a trip

While in London last week I made a special trip back to St Bartholomews to have breackfast.   http://maturesolotravel.blogspot.com/2013/05/travel-warrior-day-4.html
I wrote last year about the great selection and staff at the cafe.   The architecture is wonderful and the setting is so peaceful.

So I was very sad to see the major changes to the cafe:
NO FOOD selection
NO fresh food
NO customers

It could not have been the day I was there nor the time (late morning).  It was the cafe.

I have to complement the man who staffed the cafe.  He tried to offer me a selection (3 or 4) of cakes from the day before.   Lunch was not available until noon (I arrived at 11+ am).   Having skipped breakfast so I could enjoy the cafe, I was hungry but did not want to leave this quiet spot in the middle of a city with so many people.

The wifi connection is great here so I sat and uploaded photos while I enjoyed the BEST cup of coffee I had been served in the 2+  weeks I was in the city.    I also drink tea but a good coffee is wonderful.

Chatting with the staff I was told it was a special blend and a drip process, something I did not find elsewhere.  NOTE:  I drank coffee at McDonalds 1.20 pounds and not bad, very, very hot'  at the multiple locations of take away foods, warm, bitter and not worth a refile.    So this cup of coffee was wonderful.   WARNING:  the coffee is VERY hot.   If you have ever had a pizza burn (a USA event) you know what to expect.   I had a burn for 7 days after this coffee, my fault, not the cafe's.

By this time it was lunch time and the kind staff asked if I would like soup.   Great!   not so.   It was vegetable but from a can and 4.5 pounds.      Again NOT the staff's fault.  He was trying to offer me something because I said I was hungry and not willing to pay $5.00 us for cake!    The french bread served with the soup was good.

I shall be sending a review to the management of the cathedral.   A great cafe in London has been replaced with something that resembles a bar with a microwave.   If you have visited this year, please give me your opinions.

London Highgate Cemetery: The Dead Share Their Secrects

Highgate Cemetery:  London

One of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ historic cemeteries around London, Highgate Cemetery was described as the best example of Victorian architecture.

I have had a fascination with stone angles and other tomb sculptures for years so a visit to Highgate was on the top of my list.    I was not disappointed.

Highgate is divided into East and West sections.     Visiting the east side required a reservation and a ticket that I booked weeks in advance for Halloween, an appropriate day.

How strange that you must have a reservation and pay to visit the sleeping.

Promptly at 2 PM the small group was allowed to enter the chapel in the two story stone building at the entrance.   We were introduced to Peter and started our adventure.  For the next hour we were entertained, informed and gained a little insight into Victorian burial practices.   Dating back to 1839 there was much to learn.  A wonderful book available in the ticket office, “Highgate.  Saved by its Friends” was a good source of details on the history of the cemetery, the more famous people buried here and the distinctive architectural styles found.

My goal was to photograph the monuments throughout the cemetery, particularly the angles.   But there were many other buildings and decorative carvings that were equally as interesting.   Highgate is a rolling terrain of natural growth of trees and plants that surround the monuments and border the trails.  This is not the trimmed grass and standardize monument cemetery we find in many American locations.   At first glance you think the many acres are not tended.  Peter explained that invasive plants and trees are being replaced with other plants that will not damage the monuments.  

This is a very peaceful place.  Although only families of the interred and paid tours are permitted to visit, there is no sense of sorrow or dread.   The most noteworthy avenues lead you to the Joshua Tree which is believed to be 100+ years old.  The impressive Egyptian Avenue leady to the Circle of Lebanon.  You could easily spend all day in this beautiful ‘forest’, strolling and reading the inscriptions on the monuments.

Peter (our guide) pointed out some of the symbolism that the carvings depicted:

Lotus
Pointing angels
Wreaths
Inverted Torch
Broken Columns
Draped Urn

To describe each monument and give the history of the more famous ‘residents’ would become another book on this one of a kind locations.

www.highgatecemetery.org

Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust

London: High Tea at Kensington Palace, a mistake

I am in love with England and the traditions that make it so unique.   And a country that enjoys cake and tea every afternoon is on my list of places to live.
During this trip I found myself at Kensington Palace and decided to have afternoon tea as a local in the Orangery.  This separate building overlooking the expansive park sent my mind back hundreds of years imagining strolling through the gardens as a diversion before the next formal event or scheduled ‘meet and greet’ at the palace.

I was not certain my ‘travelers attire’ would allow me entrance, but found there was no problem as i followed another solo traveler with a back pack into the room off the main dining area.   At this point it was too late to change my mind when I finally translated the menu.  Yes it was in English but my brain did not calculate that the full tea service at 24L was closer to $40 US.       The only alternative was not any savings.   So I decided to splurge and experience high tea.  

   

There was a tired stand that offered sandwiches, cakes and scones with cream and jam.      I tried everything.  The salmon sandwich wedge did not impress me nor did the pick and white cake with a marzipan casing.     My excuse for eating everything, was that I had skipped lunch. 

The presentation added to this pleasurable hour:  starched white table lines, china cups and dishes and a bottomless pot of tea.

An interesting fact I discovered in the Hyde Park Newsletter my London host edits for a large volunteer group, was that the loo (rest room) is located outside the building and you must ask for the secret code to unlock the door.    So although I did not see any Royals while having afternoon tea nor walking in the park, I do have the secret code to use the loo.