http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19577
My tip is to do what I've been doing for a couple of years now and forsake the over-priced Alps for the lowcost splendor of the Pyrenees. Much cheaper and easier to reach the resorts (Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2 and Flybe all fly into Toulouse, Carcassonne or Pau), cheaper and friendlier accommodation and, a big plus, hardly any queues at the lifts!

Of course, the ski domains are smaller and the runs a bit shorter but for a weekend break at 250 euros it's hard to beat.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19577 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19452 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19452 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19445
The park was built in the Jin Dynasty (1186). The park is open all year around but the best time to visit it is in autumn, when all the leaves turn red/orange colour and it will just leave you mesmerized. Běijīng Zhíwùyuán (Beijing Botanical Gardens), are located next to the foot of Xiāngshān. It's a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and would be ideal for anyone who wants to while away their time in beautiful surroundings, including the greenhouse and a special rose garden that contains at least five types of rose flower. Quite romantic too!

After spending the day at Xiāngshān and Běijīng Zhíwùyuán, it would provide a nice ending to the day if you visited the town of Wu Dao Kou - an area near the Tsinghua and Beijing Universities, popular with tourists, foreign students and expats alike. There are a myriad of restaurants of all different types of cuisines (including Indian, Italian and Mexican). There are also some nice Japanese and Korean restaurants where you can drink authentic Japanese or Korean beer over a nice meal.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19445 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19303
The oldest known one (which is not marked, to protect it) is nearly 5000 years old. At about 10,000 feet altitude, look for the Schulman Grove visitor center, about an hour's drive outside Bishop.

Without a doubt, this is the most magical place I have ever been in my life. If you stay for sundown and don't camp, be prepared for a really windy, dark drive down the mountain.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19303 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19120 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19120 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18820 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18820 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18765
There are many small villages and historic cities that are a reflection of the prosperous mining boom of the early 18th century. This vast economic wealth transformed the region and resulted in the Brazilian Golden Age, a movement purely distinct of the Minas Gerias state.

When you walk down the cobble-stoned streets lined with ornate cathedrals painted in pure gold, imposing colonial mansions, and intricate fountains you’ll be transported back to one of the most prosperous times in Brazilian history.

The mountains, prehistoric caves, rivers and national parks of the area are also great places to experience the natural beauty of this historic region.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18765 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18749
Reliable winds, safe anchorages, and stunning viewpoints mean that any sailing trip is going to be amazing. There's quite a few old seadogs living in their boats in the Bay, taking people out for a day or a few days - the best way to see the islands.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18749 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18736 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18736 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18712 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18712 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18639
A hotel which has a great view of Mount Olympus is the Semeli Resort. It's small but cosy and is beside the forests. Great walking opportunities, birdwatching, mountain biking, skiing - when there's snow.

In 20 minutes' drive you can visit Dion, Vergina in one-hour drive, Thessaloniki with a vast collection of Byzantine churches and ruins, museums and the beach is 20 minutes' drive. I love this area - beautiful mountains, small villages with simple but genuine life. It is worth visiting.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18639 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18623
The whole trip is all about the raw experience of island living, adventure of the wilder kind and balanced with good soul food and massages on board. I am pretty amazed with their project of helping out communities to have a part in their business with employments, accommodations, food and services for the trip.

They are a small quiet company who wants to take the right people to this remote area, having been with them three expeditions already, I can't help but spread this small secret to others- it can only attract the right people, the more they grow the more of their goodwill and campaign spreads and thus helps preserving this development hotspot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18623 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18588 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18588 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18580 www.jeri-brazil.org/english.html]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18580 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18559 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18559 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18525
Rowardennan Hotel is very handy too. Great for launching your own boats which can be moored on guest moorings (for a fee). Jetty and shallow beaches.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18525 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18497 reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/e.

Worth writing down the journey details and the Romanian for 'first-class ticket' and handing it over - no English spoken at the train station when I was there. But the Lonely Planet guide came to the rescue.

Once you have found the platform watch out. The noticeboard flagged two separate trains - one to Targa Mures and one to Bucharest. The Bucharest train stops at Sighisoara.

But the trains appear to arrive joined as one - late. So it can be confusing.

What seems to happen is that the first-class carriage is always carriage three.

If you are on the same train as me be prepared for 50 year-old rolling stock in first class.

The scenery is fantastic. Ranging from the awesome pollution of Copsa Mica to shepherds and their flocks.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18474 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18474