DFDS Seaways, a valid alternative to Eurotunnel?

If you want to cross the Channel (that little Straight of Dover that measures 34 kilometers) you have a number of options.

Swimming is the cheapest, and apparently not impossible as more than 1000 people already did it before you.

But let's say you are not adventurous and want to use a more conventional type of transport. You could fly of course, but the price would be high and the time lost quite substantial. First you need to go to the airport, then arrive 2 hours in advance. Once you touch down in any of the English airports you would have a long custom control to go through and spend at least an hour on the Tube (that is the London Metro/Subway).

No, by train is more logical. You can take the Eurostar if you are traveling on foot, or the Eurotunnel if you want to put your car in a cattle wagon-style vehicle. Both options will only take 30 minutes, but you need to check in on time and in the case of the Eurostar you'll need to get to the train station. Big advantage is that you will be dropped in the middle of London (Waterloo Station) or in the case of the Eurotunnel in Ashford.

A last alternative (and one I tried this month) is taking a ferry from Dunkirk or Calais to Dover. There are a number of companies that organise 90-minute ferry services and we opted for DFDS Seaways. They had a great offer at only 54 euro return for one car and up to 9 passengers (not sure how I could fit 9 passengers in a small Renault Scenic). The advertise with the promise that you will get a premium service at a low price, but only part of that promise is true. They are cheap, yes, but the service is not special and the condition of their ships are not so good. Lots of broken chairs, stained carpets, several decks that were closed and an overpriced shop and cafetaria.

But beggars can't be choosers and it's still great value for money. No hassle, just order online, fill in some details and before you know it you'll have your booking reference which is the only thing you'll need on the day of sailing. If you want to check them out: DFDS Seaways

England - Wales 2012

This year we went to England and Wales with our two children. A perfect family location, and a great way to test www.bewelcome.org

Our itinerary:

Day 1: Brussels - Calais - Dover - West Wycombe - Oxford

Day 2: Oxford - Stoke-on-Trent - Newcastle under Lyme - Leek

Day 3: Leek - Eyam - Leek

Day 4: Leek - Tissington - Ilam - Alstonefield -

Day 5: Leek - Warrington

Day 6: Warrington - Liverpool - Warrington

Day 7: Warrington - Liverpool - Warrington

Day 8: Warrington - Lymm - St.Clears

Day 9: Llangynin - Laugharne - Pendine - Tenby - Llangynin

Day 10: Llangynin - Fishguard - St. Davids - Llangynin

Day 11: Llangynin - Caerleon - Huffington - Maidstone

Day 12: Maidstone - Dover - Calais - Brussels

Llanfair P.G.

Pretty soon we will travel to the land of Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton, Siân Phillips, Inigo Jones, Laura Ashley, Mary Quant, Henry Morton Stanley, Griff Rhys Jones, T. E. Lawrence, John Cale and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci! We will mingle with Druids, visit the home town of the wizard Myrddin, try to pronounce Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch without stuttering and say 'diolch yn fawr' and 'noswaith dda' like a good boy should. Because one language is never enough (Dyw un iaith byth yn ddigon) and Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn llyswennod

Llangynin, Wales

The first time I visited Wales, I stayed in a farm house where a gruesome murder had taken place. Luckily not while I was there, and hopefully not in the room where I was staying, but a murder all the same! I remember Alison (then my landlady, now a good friend) showing me a book about famous murders in South Wales. The book has gone out of print unfortunately, but a bit of research on the internet dug up the whole story.

Apparently the murder took place in 1953 when 63-year-old John Harries and his 54-year-old wife Phoebe mysteriously disappeared from Derlwyn Farm, Llangynin (near St. Clears, carmartenshire). According to their nephew Ronnie Harries they were staying at his parents’ place, Cadno Farm, but later he told the police they had moved to London.

The police treated their disappearance with suspicion, especially after finding Derlwyn farm in a mess and uncooked food in the stove. They searched Cadno Farm (where Ronnie Harries lived) and found the resting place of John and Phoebe Harries who had been beaten to death with a hammer, a hammer that Harries had borrowed from a neighbour only two days earlier.

Despite Ronnie protesting his innocence till the end, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to death in Swansea Prison.

Toulouse

What to do in Benalmadena

Benalmádena is a town in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain.

What can you see there?

- Torre Quebrada watchtower

- Bil-bil Castle

- Colomares Castle

- Dolphins in Selwo Marina

- Enjoying the nice weather at the coast

- The largest Buddhist Enlightenment Stupa in the Western world

BeWelcome: a valid alternative to CouchSurfing

Now that CouchSurfing has revealed its true nature and gone Corporate (or should we say "they finally admitted that they have always been in it for the money"?) many travelers and users of Hospitality Exchange networks are looking for a valid alternative to Couch Surfing.

Number one contender would be www.bewelcome.org, a non-profit, free and open source travel and accommodation community run solely by volunteers. The number of members is still low (compared to the millions of CouchSurfing) but the community is strong and will hopefully benefit from the new members who don't necessarily like the changes that CS is going through.