Making Plans

Not long now before my Americas Heart & Soul holiday (see previous post) but my thoughts are currently looking further ahead.

Cirumstances have dictated that I've not got anything else planned for the future and this is unusual, its very rare for me not to have another trip to look forward to when i return from holiday.

First thing that comes to mind is the Christmas/New Year period and i just haven't a clue what i want to do. I've actually done something for the last 3 years, abroad twice and in the UK once and enjoyed them all. Maybe i should just stick a pin in the brochure and get something booked.

Looking further ahead i was hoping to do a couple of things with a friend but that looks unlikely so need to start planning ahead. I've really enjoyed my American Touring holidays with Just You and have no doubt the one coming up will be any different so had a quick ook at whats on offer next year.

Managed to find 3 tours that I think I'd like so need to start deciding which to go for :-

Big Texan Adventure
Yosemite, Grand Canyon and classic California
America's Historic Trail.

Maybe if the lottery comes up i'll do all three.

Also been looking at European City Breaks (4/5 nights) using my Avios points (like i did Barcelona last year), plenty of good options, be interesting to chat with anyone else that has Avios maybe we could travel together, more fun than been totally solo. Not that I mind if its somewhere i want to see, i'll go.

Talking of other solo travellers its been something I've been thinking about awhile now that its a good idea to get people together with the same interests and maybe a small group of 3/4/5 book the same trip. Don't get me wrong group holidays are fantastic and I've made many good friends but if a small group really fancy something and are experienced travellers not really needing a tour manager it does make financial sense to organise your own.
Its something I've done for groups of friends in the past and its not a big problem to do Be interested in others opinions on this (my email is at top of this blog or leave a comment).

One trip I've fancied and been pricing up is Chicago for the Blues Festival weekend in June, its something i want to go to anyway as a Blues fan. Its actually the largest Free festival in the world and lasts 3 days.

Its a City I like and of course offers far more, lots of things to see and do so it would suit others not just the music fans although i'm convinced they would be converted.
I was thinking of maybe something between a 7 to 10 day trip and as of today it could be done at a reasonable costs (costs vary all the time so this is a guide) :-

Priced up a 7 night trip in June including the festival weekend (hopefully costs will come down, always reckon January is best time to book) :-
Flight/Hotel (own room) - less than £1500 (direct flights and decent city centre hotel)
Transport - would use subways and buses which a 7 day pass is $28 that includes transfers from airport so would spend around £30 if did 10 days.
City Pass - $100 (£70) gets into 5 of the main attractions so sorts out most daytime activities although is other options.
So for around £1600 you have a good 7 night (9 day as the hol companies advertise) although i'll add it doesn't include meals.
Its no more than the price you get charged for a 3 night city break over there.

Obviously there are other optional costs like night time entertainment (music clubs often have a cover charge around $10) and maybe other daytime activities such as Lake or River Cruises.

Anyone else fancy same trip ?

Blues Highway here I come (part 1)

Not long now before I do a dream trip for me when i travel with a Just You group on their Americas Heart & Soul holiday.
Although we will be travelling on the Interstates the holiday will be following Route 61 (Blues Highway) which traditionally goes from New Orleans to Chicago.
We of course are going in the opposite direction and as well as the two great cities named will have stops in both St Louis & Memphis.

Of course all four Cities are known for their great music scene and one thing I'll be doing that isn't on the schedule is visiting many clubs and taking in the local scene, love my Blues but am up for it all.
Anyway I've been doing a bit of research and over next few posts will tell you about my intentions when I'm over there.
Certainly could be a few late nights and I'm sure they'll be a few others that love the music and wont mind been with the tired ones on the bus and tag along, got to get most out of the holiday and the music is important.

I know Chicago well as been numerous times and have also been to both St Louis (twice) and Memphis (once) so have a good idea what i want to do in those places but i'm going blind into New Orleans so will have to trust others and my instincts. Not quite finalised exact places I'll visit on a night as most places haven't got their music schedules up yet (but watch this space).

Away from night time I wont be doing the City tour in Chicago, the Arch in St Louis, Lincolns home in Springfield as these are things I've already done in the past.

I do intend to visit the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, its a long while since I've been and about a 30 minute bus ride from the ciy centre. Amazing place though one of the best museums i've been to and certain to be new things to see.

Probably also not do the City Tour in St Louis also (did it on route 66 holiday two years ago) but may visit Union Station instead, can do it on the Metro.

Although I've been to Memphis (9 years ago) i didn't get to Graceland so thats something I'm really looking forward to and of course the included Gospel Concert is a must.
Think the Jazz Cruise will be great and I've booked the optional Swamp Tour in New Orleans so they are things that I'mreally excited about.

Dissapointed we are driving past Clarksdale as its the "birthplace of the blues" and would love my photo taken and the Crossroads and visit the Delta Blues museum. Still cant do everything and its sure to be a great trip.

Can't wait.

It (sometimes) takes two to tango

Think some people will be thinking I've stopped travelling with the lack of updates on here so will confess in the last couple of months i've actually been away twice.
End of August had five nights away in Scotland and i only returned from a week in Madeira this weekend.
Reason I've not wrote them up is because I did them with a friend and this blog is about Solo holidays however after giving it some thought i can relate some experiences for the benefit of everyone including solo people who are considering the destinations.

Scotland :-
Was good visited a number of places in the 4 full days there including Stirling, Edinburgh & Loch Lomond.
Stayed at a hotel (Westerwood Golf & Spa) close to Cumbernauld which was a great location to get around. Was only a 5 minute drive to Croy railway station where there is a massive Park & Ride (free) so on the visits to both Stirling & Edinburgh we used the train which actually worked out cheaper than petrol and parking if we had drove to these cities (could have done same if we had visited Glasgow). Trains were very regular about every half hour to and from each city.
Stirling was first stop, nice place and was very impressed and we got a 3 day pass from "historical scotland" which allows you to visit lots of places in 3 seperate days over a 5 day period. The cost works out just £1 cheaper than the joint cost of visiting Stirling and Edinburgh Castles, so even if doing nothing else it helps you get fast track entry and beat the tourist queues.



On our last day we mapped out a diving route visiting 4 other smaller properties on the list including Blackness Castle and Linlithgow Palace which made for an interesting day out, so got full value for our pass.


Loch Lommond we made a full day driving through the trossachs national park east of the Loch then coming down the west side stopping off at numerous places. Found a nice little tea room in Tarbet (don't go to the tourist place on the lake front) and really liked Luss.
Did a boat trip from Luss which was a rip off, it was advertised as a lake cruise with commentry but turned out to be doubling as the water taxi taking people to the Youth Hostel at the other side. Still waiting for the commentry although they said a couple of words just before we docked

.
In hindsight would have drove to Ballach at the souh of the Loch and got the boat to Luss, had a couple of hours there then another boat back.
Nice trip which proves you don't need to leave this country to have a good holiday.









Madeira:-
My first ever trip to the flowered island and was very impressed with the place, would be a decent spot for Solo travellers as it feels very safe to walk around day and nght.

Flew with Jet2 from Newcstle and must admit I'm very impressed with the airport efficiency in everything, car park is handy, security is quick and facilities are good for a smaller airport. No wonder it often comes top in customer service surveys.

Although flying with Jet2 actually sorted the flight/hotel myself through Expedia and although had to pay extra for my luggage and arrange our own transfer we saved £70 per person on the holiday.
Arranged the transfer online through a company called Madeira Transfers (they had good reviews on tripadvisor), they also offer excurrsions. The good thing about this company is that although you book online you don't pay until you get there (pay driver in euros) so don't have the worry of giving them your credit card details. The driver was there with my name up on arrival and again there on time for our return from the hotel.


Stayed at the Pestana Grand hotel which is a good hour walk into Funchal (harbour area) but they provided a free shuttle up to 7pm and there was plenty of service buses (you can get a pass at reasonable cost).

We did Bed & Breakfast and only had our evening meal at the hotel first night as only arrived at 8pm, it was a buffet and good but Funchal is so full of restaurants its more fun moving around.

Ate at a different place each night and they were all good stndard bt thought the best was the ones in the back streets in the Old Town.

A must is to do the Hop on hop off buses and their are two companies do it (Yellow & Red), reckon Red is the best option as they visit a couple of interesting places that the Yellow doesn't, one a lovely Church on a hill (can see it from all over) with some nice gardens behind it (surprising not many got off here) and also a stunning view point to look over the city.


Did a jeep tour to the west of the island which was great fun and also visited Nuns Valley, got brave and did it on the service bus which was fun (although we didn't do it you can get dropped off at the view point and walk down to the village which takes an hour or so apparently as bus goes there also).
If i go to Madeira again would plan a few trips on local buses, its a good adventure and the services seem reliable.

Did all the usual tourist stuff like cable cars and the wood tobbagons which was fun.