Cinque Terre... Packing Tips... Awesome Airstrips... and more...

Travel News for October 2013

Hi All,

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

The fall colours are certainly coming out in Toronto. If you have a photo of the awesome fall colours, please email it to me and I'll showcase some of them in the November newsletter!

As always, grab a beverage, put your feet up and enjoy!

Cinque Terre

Italy's northwest coast - Exquisite scenery & tasty seafood

Manarola

While the region's name means "five lands," it may as well translate as "many steps." Each village has a permanent population of a few hundred.

The five villages, a three- or four-hour train ride from Milan, each have their own character. The northernmost village of Monterosso has the sandy beach. Next is picturesque Vernazza, with round harbor guarding pastel buildings. Corniglia is perched highest above the water. Manarola has deep-water swimming. And the anchor of Riomaggiore feels less touristy than the rest.

After dwelling in isolation until a century ago, the towns are now linked by hiking trails and a railroad line. A visit offers the opportunity to sample the sandy beach in one town, a ceramic shop in another and the seafood risotto in another - all in one day.

Corniglia

For a less strenuous visit, regional trains run frequently between the towns. A two-day pass for the trains and for hiking along the trails, which are technically part of a national park, costs about $30.

Just remember that riding the train to Corniglia leaves 382 steps in 33 zig-zagging flights up the hill from the railway station to the town. A shuttle bus timed to meet the trains will cart passholders up the hill for free.

Steps leading away from Montesorro

One strenuous hike is called the vineyard path from Corniglia to Manarola. Despite the head start of the shuttle bus, the climb out of Corniglia is exhausting and the descent into Manarola leaves rubbery legs. But the views may be worth the struggle, seeing the next village perched above the waves. Vineyards are tiered along the hillsides. Olives and berries also grow along the path, which seems to meander through the backyards of residents at times...

To read the full story, please click here

Tidbit: Ticketless 9-year-old prompts TSA investigation...click here

Four signs that your packing strategy could use some work!

Wrinkled wardrobe? Damaged goods?

Have you ever paid an excess baggage fee, left your passport at home or cleaned up a messy shampoo spill in your suitcase? If you've encountered any of these packing crises, chances are your suitcase-stuffing strategy could use a little work. To help your trip preparation go more smoothly, Independent Traveler has pinpointed the warning signs of four common packing problems and identified a few easy, effective solutions for each.

The Four Warnings:

A Wrinkled Wardrobe
Damaged Goods
Too much Baggage
Pre-Trip Panic

To check out all the great packing tips, please click here.

Tidbit: 36 hours in Reykjavik...click here

Awesome air strips!

From mountains to sea...

Courchevel Altiport, France

Arriving at an air terminal is rarely a memorable event unless you book a flight touching down at one of these hairy or awesome air strips.

Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten, Caribbean
Courchevel Altiport, France
Matekane Air Strip, Lesotho
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Caribbean
Gibraltar International Airport
Tidal Runway at Barra International Airport, Scotland
Barra International Airport, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Paro Airport, Bhutan
Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan
Harstad Airport/Narvik, Norway
Madeira Airport, Funchal, Portugal
Mal� Airport, Maldives

To see more photos and read about these airports, please click here!

Tidbit: Weird things found at Oktoberfest...click here

Janna Guay CTC ACC

Certified Travel Counsellor ACC Logo

Direct:

416.998.0539

866.794.5226

jguay@tpi.ca