- boat
- (153)
-
Tigre is an area just under an hour away from Buenos Aires and makes a peaceful break from the capital. We went by train, which is very cheap and takes a scenic route, but nonetheless frequent and punctual.
We spent a day on an organised tour, including a boat ride down the deltas, lunch and the choice of two activities; I did the horse trek and the mountain biking and both were unforgettable.
The scenery is remote and impressive, the birds and wildlife is fascinating and our bilingual tour guide made it all the more worth while! It really was a memorable day, which made for an excellent, accessible day trip from the city.
Tigre
Take a one-hour Jangada Trip. A jangada is a typical sailboat from Norther Brazil's fishermen Village. It's an amazing trip that will take you to the beautiful reefs and swim among colourful fishes. Relaxing trip in Porto de Galinhas
http:www.portodegalinhas.wiki.br
Porto de Galinhas Jangadas depart from main beach, check low tide time day before to organize your trip
Avoid Corfu's grisly package resorts and club 18-30 rep-enforced 'fun' - if you really want a clubbing holiday with sun, sea and sand, it's far cheaper to stay in a hostel.
The Pink Palace is legendary on the backpacker trail for it's beautiful location on the beach, private rooms with (free!!) air conditioning and wild parties.
More like a bargain resort than a hostel, you never have to leave the Pink Palace - the staff will pick you up from the airport or port, and have devised a jam-packed events and excursions calender if you want to do more than veg out on the sand.
The price includes countless extras, from a delicious full cooked breakfast (the perfect hangover cure) to a traditional Greek home-cooked 3 course feast at night, served in the rooftop garden overlooking Agios Gordios Bay.
The 24-hour bar (with a 5-hour happy hour!!) and access to the Palladium nightclub will keep party animals entertained, and you can recover the next day on the private sun-loungers on the beach, in the jacuzzi or in the spa room.
We were amazed at the activities on offer - the 'booze cruise' took us around the island to sea caves, places to snorkel and cliff dive. The Quad Biking 'safari' was a more adventurous way to see Corfu, we found ourselves off-roading through olive groves and scaling the mountain tops!
There was also a Kayak safari, hiking and trail walking, volleyball and basketball tournaments... but we didn't have the energy to tackle them all!
Aside from all the extras, the hostel has all the facilities you'd expect from a hotel- lockers in the dorms, washing machines, a 24-hour reception, a swimming pool... and like some other hostels in Europe, there's no curfew.
The staff were super-friendly, and everyone staying there was out to have a good time.
In New York the best value sightseeing tour is that relaxing Circle Line boat trip around Manhattan Island. For just $34 those aboard get to see it all with great commentary. Remember: sit on the left (or port for more seasoned voyagers) side of the boat!
It is the way to cruise the Nile - small, intimate 19th century style sailing boats with six cabins and private moorings, away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd. The company has four boats - Nesma, Amber, Zahra and Musk! Don't do the Nile any other way.
Izmir is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey and it has many historical places like Ephesus. It is a city nearby the sea, it has wonderful beaches to swim and take boat tours.
My wife and I plus two friends enjoyed a wonderful weeks cruising aboard a barge called Nilaya this summer. We found it an enjoyable and inexpensive way to hit the canals of France, without having to actually rent and pilot our own hire boat.
Each of the canals and rivers in France has its own unique beauty and to be honest, it doesn't matter which you choose. You'll be overwhelmed by the rural nature of cruising these old industrial highways and the wonderful little towns and villages you encounter as you do so.
Superb French wines are available throughout France so it doesn't necessarily translate that cruising in Burgundy will allow consumption and the tasting of better wines than if you were in say, the wild and woolly Ardennes.
Personally, we think that the Ardennes is unbeatable for its river and canal scenery. The 'Magical Meuse' route exceptional.
It has a wonderful new (2008) cycle path running between Charleville-Mezieres and Givet, plus a very scenic rail line that follows the route too.
It's a wonderful mix of river and canal, flowing through deep forests clinging to the steeply sided valley.
There are lots of viewpoints to hike up to, a chateau that can be visited at Freyr, the citadel and collegiate church at Dinant together with lots of lovely riverside towns and villages. I think it takes a lot of beating and after many years cruising all over France, it's now top of that list!
Nilaya includes extensive continental breakfasts and a substantial light lunch each day plus one tasty home cooked dinner built in to the price. There's a fridge on board where you can store any wines, beer or spirits you purchase and bring aboard. We even enjoyed a champagne reception on arrival.
This barge was a joy to be on and the holiday one of the most memorable we've ever taken. I hope whoever reads this enjoys it as much as we did.
Hughie & Jess
Website:
www.bargenilaya.com
Telephone:
0033 670 824762
When in Cape Town, enjoy the V&A waterfront, which is wheelchair-friendly and take a harbour cruise for magnificent views of Table Mountain and the wharf. Also, the cafes and restaurants on Long St are usually quite friendly!
N. America's Disabled Adventurer
www.bluechairbook.com
You were in Venice and you still dream of it? If you want to view the Grand Canal, the most important waterway in Venice: the water-buses, the boats and water taxis going up and down, click "il traffico" and view the real time traffic in the Grand Canal. The text is only in Italian but easy to use.
Boat Party is one of the best ways to have fun in Rio. They offer a tour with DJs, a barbecue and Caipirinhas on the boat!
I loved it - I was already having fun in Rio and after going to Boat Party I didn't want to do anything else.
(55) (21) 2309-4308
The community narrowboat called Angel II takes either community groups or private groups on tours of the canal. You can sleep up to twelve but it's nicer with less. It's based in Angel, near the tube. The skipper will take you either west through the Islington tunnel up to Camden and through London Zoo and Little Venice, or east to Broadway Market, Victoria Park, The Palm Tree pub in Bow and so on. You can turn up the Hertford Canal and go up to Hackney Marshes too.
There is a great wealth of history in terms of the industrial revolution and the various types of architecture but also the canal provides a welcome corridor of nature right through the centre of London. At 2mph it's an easy pace and you will learn how to do the locks and steer the boat. You can do an evening, a day or a week. It's self-catering.
Along the way is the London Canal Museum and various lovely old pubs. The Islington tunnel is 886 metres long - it's very impressive. Bring a nice bottle of wine and cruise through some of London's finest history. It's so peaceful.
www.acct.org.uk/
just off Graham Street N1, by the City Road Basin, it's just down from Angel Tube.
Give the touristy, overcrowded day trip from Oludeniz a miss and head down to Fethiye harbour at around 10am. Take your pick of the boats departing for a day's cruising around Fethiye's islands and inlets: around 4-5 stops for swimming and snorkelling, plenty of opportunity to sunbathe and a leisurely BBQ lunch in between. Easily the best 20TL (around £9) you'll spend all holiday. Don't forget to stock up on snacks and drinks at the supermarket beforehand as it'll save you ££s on board.
Use the Sydney Harbour - Manly ferry (a commuter route) as a means of seeing the best of Sydney harbour and north shore. It's much cheaper than the tourist trips and lasts longer!
Sydney Harbour
I've pulled together some of my top tips for Shanghai - I've categorised each tip into time periods so that you can pick and choose depending on how much free time you've got.
0-2 hours: Avoid! Bund Tourist Tunnel - 10 minutes
Crossing the Bund can be done by boat, car or underground, but don't waste your time on the rather retro (read tacky) Bund Tourist Tunnel. The name is apt as only tourists would be crazy enough to spend their money on a underground fair ride that is more likely to cause an epileptic shock than any degree of amusement. It is however, the quickest way to cross the river if you are on the banks on the Bund (and it's rush hour so the tunnel is blocked). Give a try... if you really must.
Xian dan di - 1-2 hours
Ironically housed in the former offices of the Communist party, this beautiful refurbished part of town could be accused of being rather faux in terms of its connection with real China life... but it's there and it exists and it is part of Shanghai ex-pat life. The clean streets, the trendy restaurants and the outrageous prices probably tell you that you are in a place for tourists and expats, however, it's worth a look around and for a pitstop.
Go to Starbucks - 30 mins to 1 hour
I kid you not, some would accuse me of sacrilege but there is a reason... please bear with me. A lot of the Starbucks in the city benefit from sitting in the most prestigious and ideally located positions in the city for great panoramic views. My personal recommendation would be the Starbucks situated on the East bank of the river overlooking the Bund just opposite the Shangri-La hotel. Grab yourself a Chinese tea and watch the sunset over the river. The glowing fuzz of the city ahead will warm you before you retreat to your hotel.
Enjoy drinks over the Bund - 1-2 hours
A visit to Shanghai will not be complete without a visit to the historic 'Bund' district, the colonial waterside developed on the west bank of the Huangpu River. Many of the bars/restaurants (I recommend 'M on the Bund' - www.m-restaurantgroup.com/) offer expansive views over the Bund and the tall skyscrapers in the Pudong district. The food's not bad either! English and Chinese menus are available. Other nearby highlights include the old HSBC building (no longer housing HSBC) and Huangpu Park.
Stroll along Nanjing Road (to buy the other half a gift) -
2-4 hours
Home to Shanghai's main shopping street so be prepared to be greeted by tens of thousands of people. The shops range from the local to international with department stores dotted along the way. Be sure to stop by one of the many snack stores to take on board some of the delicious buns or dumplings that make China famous. Be sure you check the custom regulations for transporting goods though, be particularly careful with any foodstuffs.
Enjoy a river cruise along Huangpu River - 1-3 hours
One observation you will undoubtedly make whilst travelling in Shanghai is that the river is bustling with life. Container ships, tankers, passenger boats all zip up and down the river at a hectic speed. Board a river cruise boat from the ferry terminal at the south of the Bund district. Here you will be able to enjoy a one, two or even three hour river cruise. Take care though... Shanghai like many other Chinese cities is prone to a spot of smog. Try and pick a clear day. Try Huangpu River Cruise (239 Second Eastern Zhong Shan Road, Shanghai - tel +86 21 6374 4461). Nearest station - Wai Tan
Sleep in the clouds - 8 hours
Nope, I'm not talking about your business class flat bed on the way back home, I'm talking about the ever impressive Grand Hyatt Shanghai. Based in Pudong it's close to the financial centre and closer to the airport. Ask for a room overlooking the Pearl TV tower or over the park.
If you're a member of a club back in London, check to see if it has a reciprocal with the Royal Bombay Yacht Club - if not, try blagging! Food and bar is very cheap - really nice views of the bay and it's got a 'last days of the Raj' feel to it.
It is very romantic for couples, also a great treat for the family. The four-course meal is fantastic, also you get to see all the Paris sights as you take your time eating dinner and drinking wine and listening to the sounds of the piano. A great way to spend lunch or dinner.
If you've got time in your schedule, you've just got to take the star ferry across Hong Kong harbour - Hong Kong Island to Kowloon or vice versa.This Hong Kong institution is iconic of Hong Kong's colonial past and deep heritage. The fare can paid by your octopus card and is just pennies. The view is fantastic and leaves from TST terminal and goes straight into the Central business district. The journey takes around 15 minutes so slower than other forms of travel but there is nothing that can beat it for value and experience.
TST terminal and Central ferry terminal
It's a small boat operator in Lisbon with intimate boats carrying up to 7 people and very cheap. Lovely music on board and superb service by the skipper.
We tried a Old Lisbon tour and it was very nice. Then the guy suggested us to have dinner in the Atira-te ao Rio restaurant in the south side of Lisbon near the bridge and we went on the boat and had a great meal and came back on the boat to Alcantara. If you don't take the tour, you should try the restaurant and you can go by boat as well.
www.marlinboattours.com, +351 919275509. Departures from Alcantara Docs and Belem, but better to call first.
Spend about an hour getting a real sense of Chicago's layout and history by cruising the rivers on an architectural boat ride. Make sure it is an authorised and well-reviewed outfit.
www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=8
www.chicagoline.com/
www.shorelinesightseeing.com/
Take a boat trip along the harbour. You get the most spectacular views.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
