tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122990932011-08-26T11:06:23.974ZWelcome to TravelNotes from The Savvy Traveler! We have introduced this site to make it easier to post our thoughts and experiences as things come up. We hope you will find some things of interest as we share our thoughts and personal experiences on travel. We also welcome your feedback and questions, so enjoy the site and thanks for stopping by!Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comBlogger581100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-56887679230301704612011-07-08T18:11:00.005Z2011-07-08T18:19:10.384Z

The Foynes Flying Boat Museum in Foynes, County Limerick, Ireland keeps getting better. The first time we visited the museum in 1996, we went looking for a Flying Boat. While we did not find one there at the time, we found a wealth of history and original newsreels and memorabilia that made us want to come back for the Irish Coffee Festival later that year. After all, we found out on our

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-81327909497926425132010-11-29T00:22:00.003Z2010-11-29T00:56:47.296Z

Today we had an opportunity to visit Waddesdon Manor, the Rothchild estate near Alesbury, this year embracing its French heritage.  The home boasts over 18,000 lights and countless beautiful decorations in a Parisiene theme, capturing the atmosphere of Christmas Eve in some of the glorious locations along the River Seine. The historic French Château is stunning, with fleurs-de-lys, lavender and

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-28002667615780965542010-08-22T22:39:00.005Z2010-08-22T22:56:08.450Z

News Flash...We interrupt our regular posts to let you know that if you are coming to the UK anytime soon, you may want to consider getting a ticket to "Dreamboats & Petticoats". I say "may" because everyone's musical taste differs, but if you are of a certain age and actually remember or even grew up on the just pre-Beatles music, this is a must see.We had an opportunity to see it at the

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-527451117122448922010-07-27T00:22:00.002Z2010-07-27T00:49:36.641Z

A Visit to CragsideHello, fellow travelers! This year we are going to experiment with something new - well, new to us, anyway. In addition to our still pictures, we will try to give you a bit of a sense of being there with some short videos.The first one is below, taken on our trip up to Scotland last week. It's from an iPhone, so the quality isn't what we'd call Hollywood style, but it's a

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-77656258844927611002009-09-04T14:42:00.003Z2009-09-04T20:07:08.719Z

In July we ventured into the northern part of Ireland with friends to see the Donegal-Sligo area for the first time. We are big fans of Ireland in general, and we still can't understand what took us so long to get up there, but it was definitely worth the wait.The entire area is a wealth of beauty and history, and our stay at the Ard na Breatha Guesthouse (B&B) and Restaurant not only proved to

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-45048472034686450642009-07-28T10:13:00.003Z2009-07-28T10:24:03.656Z

We recently stayed at the Mercure Albrighton Hall & Spa, near Shrewsbury, and it was a really nice experience.We were welcomed by a friendly staff upon arrival who attended to our every need. The rooms were large and airy, and the facilities were very cordial all around. Our meals were excellent and again served in an efficient and friendly atmosphere. The hotel is actually a 300+ old stately

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-38355783911434808932009-07-25T22:01:00.004Z2009-07-25T22:13:09.401Z

The Royal Academy of the Arts has once again created a dynamite exhibition. "J. W Waterhouse - The Modern Pre-Raphaelite" is a sight to behold. The color, the romance, the poetry and sheer beauty of this exhibition are difficult to put into words. We have not seen as comprehensive and well organized collection of the Pre-Raphaelite work since the Academy displayed Andrew Lloyd Webber's

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-22866851707898416992009-06-27T23:49:00.006Z2009-06-28T00:00:17.827Z

Join us in Ireland the 2nd week of July for the Foynes International Aviation Festival, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the first passenger flight across the Atlantic.We will also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening of Foynes Flying Boat Museum. The museum is located in Foynes, County Limerick, just 35km out the N69 from Limerick City. It is a lovely area and the museum, home

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-54614173399111637632009-06-25T11:33:00.003Z2009-06-27T08:57:01.014Z

If you are looking for a respite in Spain, Marbella could be the place for you. Having last visited there 10 years ago, we were anxious to see how it had changed. Going to our favorite hotel site, Booking.com we wanted a place conveniently located with some charm and personality. La Vllla Marbella filled the bill. What a beautiful find in the historic old town. A hallmark of these little

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-28459788977462578122009-06-25T09:12:00.004Z2009-06-25T10:10:26.020Z

We have always enjoyed our trips to Andalusia, Spain. The 3 great cities of Andalusia are Seville, Granada and Cordoba. Of all the cities we have toured in Spain, Seville has always been a favorite, so in the back of our minds, Granada and Cordoba were calling for equal time. Staying in Marbella, we booked a tour to Granada through The Savvy Traveler.Granada is the home to the Alhambra Palace

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-7102638750039629082009-06-23T12:20:00.001Z2009-06-23T12:21:57.175Z

US-based "Clear", a security vetting service in use in a number of major US airports, has announced that it is ceasing operations:"At 11:00 p.m. PST on June 22, 2009, Clear will cease operations. Clear's parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations."Blogger, Grant Martin, said, "It's always sad to see a

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-40533826581977648162009-06-13T23:15:00.003Z2009-06-13T23:45:53.362Z

We've just returned from London tonight where we spent an amazing afternoon touring the Benjamin Franklin House. This fledgling museum was home to Benjamin Franklin for his entire 16 years in London. Because of Mr. Franklin's critical role as a diplomat, it has been referred to as America's First Embassy in Great Britain.Benjamin Franklin was always one of my personal historical heroes. I

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-40067380757441310692009-06-12T20:48:00.000Z2009-06-12T20:49:38.531Z

We're back in England and happy to be once again touring around this beautiful country. Our first post upon our return documents a visit last week into Jane Austen country.One of England’s literary giants is a perky little lady named Jane Austen. For anyone fond of her work, a trip covering her haunts is a special treat. This year marks the bicentenary year of her arrival in Chawton Village.

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-34351418433579782952009-04-14T19:21:00.002Z2009-04-14T19:32:55.236Z

I don't know about you, but one of the joys of travel to me is being able to photograph the places I love to visit. That's why I am excited by Nikon's latest announcement about their new D5000, due to emerge any day.This new 12.3Mpx camera signals Nikon's recognition of the increasing importance of video to the amateur photographer community. In addition to new video features, this is their

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-61280393018882253272009-03-09T23:34:00.004Z2009-03-10T00:21:15.538Z

We're just coming to the close of a fast one month visit back to the UK, and unfortunately most of this trip was spent visiting business contacts in a cold and too often snowy Germany. But we decided to treat ourselves to a theatre evening tonight, after waiting most of the afternoon at the embassy to get some more pages clamped into our fully-stamped passports.We had been wanting to see the

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-30300580739698641672008-10-12T02:53:00.002Z2008-10-12T03:00:09.501Z

The Regina is every bit a 4-Star property, located in the heart of Barcelona just a few steps from the Placa de Catalunya, Barcelona's main square. The rooms were somewhat larger than the typical European property and well fitted out with flat screen TV and a dazzling array of lighting controls. Everything was quite modern and comfortable, and the staff were helpful and friendly.Breakfast was

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-32456843830450550362008-08-19T17:19:00.004Z2008-08-19T17:27:28.674Z

British Orientalist Painting is the title of the current exhibit at the Tate Britain. This exhibit is of great significance for two reasons. One is the incredible art on view there. Some of Fredric Leighton's best work, as well as other mid to late 19th century British artists who toured and painted the Middle East at that time. The second reason is the insight into the lives of the people

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-85283373847474772192008-08-19T10:45:00.005Z2008-08-19T11:19:37.191Z

We're back! And once again we're touring around the UK to see the most interesting spots....Laycock Village & Abbey -- Dryham ParkThere aren't too many places where you can experience an entire preserved town complete with abbey manor house, community church, pubs, B&Bs, and shops, some of which date back to the 13th century. It's the England we all dream about from the novels and films we have

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-43454827729529523132008-04-14T22:21:00.002Z2008-08-19T15:49:08.529Z

London is special but it can get hectic. When you are ready for that relaxing day in the countryside why not make it extra special and do it on the nostalgic Orient-Express. You will take a step back it time from the moment you see the historic train pull into Victoria station. Even the names of the cars evoke another age - Audrey, Cygnus, Ibis, Ione, Lucille, Minerva, Perseus, Phoenix, Vera

Arlene Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15280462372369871494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-568310608781388522008-04-06T11:56:00.007Z2008-04-09T13:27:26.702Z

A Historic City, The Round Table , Exquisite Country Homes and GardensThere are English cities that exude history, you can feel yourself in time travel mode and imagine the people, places and historic events that unfolded there years ago. Winchester is such a city. As you walk through the town you get a sense of place and time. This is the city where William the Conqueror built one of his

Arlene Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15280462372369871494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-26629075088866954662008-04-02T10:59:00.003Z2008-04-02T11:07:40.448Z

Lovers of history, biology, gardening and architecture will enjoy a trip to Charles Darwin's house, Down House in Kent. It was here that Darwin wrote that masterpiece "The Origin of Species" that rocked the world and continues to do so today. This is an English Heritage property and they have restored the house to the way Darwin left it when he died. It not only gives you a glimpse into the

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-91911527587219014222008-04-02T10:12:00.005Z2008-04-02T10:57:30.357Z

This past weekend we discovered one of those truly historic and atmospheric places that typifies one's romantic vision of England. It was a National Trust property called Ightham Mote. Dating back to, can you believe it 1320, this is a moated manor house. It has been lovingly restored and reflects the best of what the National Trust is all about. A gift from American Charles Robinson, the

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-72698385322000766382008-03-30T09:07:00.005Z2008-03-31T08:44:08.096Z

Only days after the Queen opened the new British Airways Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport, it became apparent that all was not well. The new terminal was hailed as what was to become the pride of British aviation for this early part of the century, however now it has sadly turned into nothing less than a huge debacle and an embarrassment for the both British Airways and the British

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-82941681174640565472008-03-27T11:01:00.005Z2008-03-27T11:19:18.440Z

NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON20th Feb - 18th May, 2008 If you are visiting London between now and May 18th don't miss an excellent exhibition at the National Gallery. It is highlighting the works of the premiere artist of 18th century Rome.Batoni is widely known as a portrait artist, but as this exhibition demonstrates, he was also known throughout Europe for his religious and mythological painting

Arlene Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15280462372369871494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-91074166327754365332008-03-26T22:57:00.002Z2008-03-27T00:10:26.225Z

We have seen many interesting events in the UK, and even in and around The Royal Bourough, but today's state visit by French President Nicholas Sarkozy has to be near the top of the list. The town was all but closed to traffic, of course, so we took the bus from the Park-Ride at Legoland, just down the road from Ascot. Upon arrival we found crowds of people already lining the parade

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-68031194089108205982008-03-26T22:02:00.004Z2008-03-26T22:42:52.476Z

We went into London earlier this week for lunch with friends, and to see a wonderful and highly recommended performance of "Buddy", currently playing at the Duchess Theatre on the West End. It was terrific, as one would expect from the reviews. Hopefully you will have an opportunity to see it soon.For a change things went really well with our rail journey. Reports that much of the Easter

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-45710019589267653292008-03-24T20:46:00.003Z2008-03-24T21:15:16.903Z

We hopped off to Prague last week for a few days of R & R, that stands for research and relaxation. Research, as we wanted to look for the origin of a 19th century painting we bought in Italy a few years ago. The antique dealer we bought if from said it came from an estate in Hungary. Upon further study, we saw the piece resembled the Nazarene era in central Europe and looked remarkably like

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-19594394118098894772008-03-22T23:00:00.002Z2008-03-22T23:40:33.137Z

Having just returned from a quick trip to Prague (more coming), where we flew on one of British Airways' older B-737's, I felt compelled to take note of a sign of the continuing decline in the refinement of airline travel.  On the way down from London I happened to notice that there was an unfilled hole in the back of the seat in front of me.  Then I saw that all the seats had these holes, and I

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-86344765846476793702008-03-15T22:31:00.009Z2008-05-26T00:07:07.428Z

On a more upbeat note from the peace demonstration (see previous post), our Ides of March outing was more than saved when we were fortunate enough to get seats at a pre-opening performance of Jersey Boys playing at the Prince Edward. This play about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons has achieved rave reviews from La Jolla, California where it was first staged, all the way to Broadway. We sat

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-38729399177470069002008-03-15T21:50:00.006Z2008-03-15T23:39:19.334Z

We're back in London for awhile, and we always marvel at the variety of people, cultures and opinions we observe. Today we were walking by Trafalgar and happened upon a mass of angry people waving banners and carrying signs. Not just your average demonstration this time - a number of the signs penned George Bush as the world's #1 terrorist. This was truly an angry bunch, and it appeared that

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-89408537156138883032007-12-02T00:03:00.000Z2007-12-03T22:55:09.755Z

Ever dream of a romantic interlude in Venice but don't want to it to eat up all of your vacation money for the next year? Conveniently located half way between the railway station and St. Mark's Square, this little inn is just a few steps from the Ca' D'Oro vapretto stop. We have stayed at the Gritti, the Danieli, and many other places at both ends of the hotel spectrum, but the Locanda Le Vele

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-88148364972212088372007-11-28T19:51:00.000Z2007-11-28T20:32:20.640Z

County Wicklow is an often overlooked county in Ireland. If you are planning a trip to Ireland take a closer look. County Wicklow is just south of Dublin and holds the promise of something for everyone, from historic country homes and gardens to scenic mountain views and quaint little picture book villages.Starting in the northwest corner, there are two of the finest Palladian mansions in all

David Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09380516861146013177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-30521964128158125392007-11-17T17:59:00.000Z2007-12-02T13:57:21.109Z

As it's cold in London now, indoor activities seem to make the most sense. On Nov. 14th we headed to the Tate Britain for the Millais Exhibition. And what a superb exhibition it was. Anyone with a love for 19th century British art and particularly the pre-Raphaelites should not miss this opportunity. The collection spans the full career of John Everett Millais including paintings, sketches,

Arlene Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15280462372369871494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1156722376100414892006-08-27T22:48:00.001Z2010-02-05T14:37:03.927Z

Living near Windsor we see Windsor Castle often, but it still never fails to impress. There's lots of history, it's stunningly imposing and it's been been a royal home and fortress for over 900 years... So imagine our surprise when we visited Arundel Castle recently and found that it had all those same characteristics plus a wonderfully enchanting appearance. Arundel Castle Both an ancient

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1155761417452924032006-08-16T20:19:00.000Z2006-08-16T21:31:04.713Z

We spend a lot of time in the the UK, as you might have noticed, and we live not far from Windsor, where we maintained offices for several years. Windsor is a great destination, not only because of the castle, which is one of the oldest continuiously inhabited castles you will find anywhere, but also for the town itself. From the new Windsor Royal Station shopping venue to all the restaurants,

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1155686558855132852006-08-15T23:36:00.000Z2006-08-17T22:58:08.706Z

Well, yes. It's sad, really, that Edinburgh seems to take the majority of attention when thinking about a trip to Scotland. And especially in the late summer, during the Festival. Say "Glasgow" on the other hand, and it conjures up visions of factories and smog. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, as Glasgow has many unique features, and one of the best museums (The

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1155508024108650192006-08-13T21:41:00.000Z2006-08-14T20:44:19.426Z

This weekend we ventured to Northamptonshire to attend the "Festival of History Festival" sponsored by English Heritage. It was a truly interesting event covering over 2000 years of English history from the Romans through World War II. Romans MarchingWe highly recommend it for anyone planning to be here during the late summer next or successive years - it usually takes place in mid-August. It is

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1144410959312797262006-04-07T11:47:00.000Z2006-04-07T11:58:54.690Z

We first rated the Hotel Fiera in late 2004 and were impressed with the quality and presentation of this property. We immediately thought of it when we learned we needed to attend a trade fair in Bologna on behalf of a client last week.The booking was easy! Venere was perfect as always, providing lots of good information in advance, including reviews by other travelers. We especially like the

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1134018855949780392005-12-08T05:09:00.000Z2005-12-08T05:17:06.573Z

The Dona' Palace is a rare find in Venice. Great value for money, it is just a few steps from St. Marks and a convenient home base for your visit. The hotel is actually a 16th century palace, though this is only discernible from the exterior and a large and attractive hall used as a breakfast room and lounge. The rest of the hotel's interior is thoroughly modern, with such unexpected conveniences

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1134018516110416672005-12-08T05:04:00.000Z2005-12-08T05:16:27.426Z

The Genio is a great place to call home when seeing Rome. It is just 5 minutes from the Piazza Navona, and a short walk to many other sites...Read the complete review.For more great hotel suggestions, visit The Savvy Traveler.

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1132525951812356412005-11-20T22:16:00.000Z2005-11-20T22:32:31.836Z

Anyone interested in art, architecture and Roman history should not miss an opportunity to compare two fabulous palaces while in Rome - The Vatican Museums and Nero's Golden Palace, the Domus Aurea. The Domus Aurea, having arrived on the scene first (64 AD), was the emperor Nero's summer palace on the hill overlooking the Colosseum. It lay buried under present day Rome until a few years ago

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1128227563859177102005-10-02T04:21:00.000Z2005-10-02T04:33:17.793Z

The Savvy Traveler has a new, cleaner look with direct links to our new reservations systems, including an award-winning hotel-booking engine, powered by World Choice Travel.Our powerful hotel engine provides the widest selection of hotel accommodations throughout the world. This technology connects directly to the central reservations systems of hotels worldwide, resulting in better rate and

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1127266655660785962005-09-21T01:31:00.000Z2005-09-21T01:37:35.666Z

20 September - 2 October, 2005If you are visiting London or the Thames Valley over the next two weeks check out one of the finest arts festivals in the country, The Windsor Festival. Not only will you enjoy the performances and events that you attend, you will also enjoy the venues in which they are held. The activities range from heritage walks and tours of historic places to art exhibitions,

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1123596306670978732005-08-09T13:45:00.000Z2005-08-09T14:08:56.860Z

There has been a recent increase in legislation in some European countries which could lead an unsuspecting motorist into a very uncomfortable situation. It is now more important than ever to check before you leave in order to assure you do not get entangled by this complex list of "tricky" laws.Here are a few examples:Many European countries, including Beigium, France, Spain and Germany now

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1123286091946861842005-08-05T23:34:00.000Z2005-08-06T21:12:39.336Z

Driving the freeway in South Wales near Cardiff, you catch a glimpse of a most romantic castle perched on the hillside overlooking the Taff Valley. It is Castell Coch, a dazzling architectural masterpiece of the Victorian era. Leaving the freeway you drive up a winding richly forested hill to enter the castle grounds, a fitting entry to this magnificent indulgence of the the 3rd Marquess of Bute.

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1123284775553778362005-08-05T23:05:00.000Z2005-08-05T23:32:55.560Z

If you enjoy history, architecture and period movies, don't miss seeing Dorney Court and Basildon Park this month, August, in the English county of Berkshire. Both properties exhibit the distinct architectures of different periods of English history. And both properties have been the movie sets of popular period films. As Dorney Court is still privately owned, it is only open in August which

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1121959682469112792005-07-21T15:22:00.000Z2005-07-21T15:43:47.586Z

When you arrive in Paris, it is often an overwhelming experience. Rushing from monuments to major museums, gets you to see the sights but not always feel the pulse of the city and its people. Part of the fun of travel is imagining everyday life in your new destination, and a good way to do that in Paris is in the Marais area. The Marais is located on the right bank opposite Ile St. Louis.Here

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1121951519024421372005-07-21T12:58:00.000Z2005-07-21T14:14:03.156Z

We've tried lots of hotels in Paris, and this is one of our favourites. There are many more quaint hotels to choose from in Paris, but if you want a good clean air conditioned room with good service and lots of amenities the Holiday Inn Paris Saint Germain des Pres cannot be beat. For those who want to do business or just can't drag themselves away from the worldwide web, there is wireless

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1121943011451140842005-07-21T10:07:00.000Z2005-07-21T10:51:10.386Z

Living in the UK during the recent London bombings has been an emotional but somehow uplifting experience for us. Emotional, obviously because of the range of emotions that we experienced during and after the tragedy, but uplifting because of the almost uniform reaction of Londoners and the British people in general. As I sit here watching the final debris being removed from the bus which was

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1121273365367637812005-07-13T16:44:00.000Z2005-07-13T16:49:25.373Z

Many people flock to Buckingham Palace for the summer opening and walk right past one of the other treasures of the crown - The Queen’s Gallery. Unlike Buckingham Palace, the Gallery is open year round. Reopened in 2002 for the Queen’s jubilee year, the newly remodeled Gallery is a beautiful venue in itself. The Queen’s Gallery was created to present different parts of the Royal Collection to

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1121190633920058812005-07-12T17:43:00.000Z2005-07-12T17:50:33.926Z

This is a favorite time of year for Ireland. The summer months bring festivals and activities throughout the little towns in the countryside. One of our favorite festivals occurs this week in Foynes, county Limerick. Foynes is the home of Irish Coffee. It was here that the famous Pan Am Flying Boats used to land on their way to and from America. This is a particularly romantic era in the

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1119648182699962552005-06-24T21:19:00.000Z2005-06-24T21:23:02.703Z

This year marks a momentous day in British history, the bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson. To honor that day, there are two major programs going on in the UK starting in July. If you are coming to the UK you won’t want to miss the opportunity to take part in some of the activities associated with each. English Heritage is supporting the summer long

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1118962979034795902005-06-16T22:32:00.000Z2005-06-16T23:03:27.796Z

If you ever dreamed of seeing the best of the UK antique and fine art dealers in one place, this is the month to do it. On show now at the Olympia Exhibition Center in London is the Summer Olympia, and this weekend, the Grosvenor Art and Antique Show will commence in Mayfair at Grosvenor House. The added bonus is that both shows also feature dealers from the international community.Olympia

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1117557921679257562005-06-02T13:26:00.000Z2005-06-03T23:56:36.163Z

We've survived a severe DDOS attack which took our site down for about 4 days starting 30 May 2005. We are glad to say we are back up and running, finally.Do check out the new design and watch for lots more content. We will be posting trips, tours and unique itinearies on the site on a regular basis.You should be able to reach us at http://thesavvytraveler.com orhttp://thesavvytraveler.com,

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1117555954181816252005-05-31T15:38:00.000Z2005-05-31T16:12:34.190Z

Contrary to popular opinion, there are still ways to have a reasonably priced vacation to Europe. Let' focus on a few of the things you can do to keep the cost down and know what it's going to cost up front.One of the best values now is taking a Cruise. A Mediterranean cruise, for example, has the best chance for good weather and the big-ticket costs of hotel and food are priced in. Many of

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1116991975072655192005-05-25T03:29:00.000Z2005-05-25T03:53:45.830Z

As Americans head over to Europe, some for the first time, often the determining factor on where to go becomes the best package of hotel and airfare currently on offer by the many internet companies. So you book the flight and hotel and soon find yourself in a foreign destination not sure what to do next. If visions of romantic castles, medieval villages, scenic train trips and relaxing river

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1115590568997187212005-05-11T03:13:00.000Z2007-03-25T15:01:57.132Z

Having been to the Hawaiian Islands a dozen times, we were in no hurry to see the standard tourist spots anymore. We just wanted to take in the beauty and enjoy the contrast of the majestic mountains and the blue sea, the colorful plants and the contrasting black lava rock in many places. However, there was one more aspect that always interested us, and that was the culture of Hawaii. Save up

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12299093.post-1115762194642211992005-05-10T21:52:00.000Z2005-05-19T19:47:03.176Z

Now is the time to cash in on the summer specials for Europe this year. Many of the hotel chains run these, and often the savings are significant. If you are going to Europe this year you really need to look into the current crop of deals. If you are just thinking about it...well, this might swing the trip for you!Most of the chains run thess, but one of our favorites is Hilton, currently

Jasmine Partners LLChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03783434015585821610noreply@blogger.com