Escorted Tour Holidays

I have recently returned from my Rockies tour of Western Canada. It was great to have such a good party to travel with, and nice to have someone to organise everything while we were away. It took all of the worry out of travelling. The scenery was breathtaking, and Canadian people so friendly.

We stayed at some beautiful places. One I will never forget is the Rimrock Hotel, Banff, with its spectacular views from the restaurant. Everything went just as planned, and I have to pass on my thanks for all of your help. Well done.

Mrs Ayers - Brighton

Dear Sue,

I must share with you my enthusiasm for the holiday in China you arranged for me. It was just gob-smackingly different!

We were met by our rep opposite the Virgin Atlantic check in desks at Heathrow terminal 3, taken to the Virgin's Upper Class lounge which is amazingly well equipped, including a beauty salon, shower facilities, a library, business facilities, a large bar, televisions and comfortable seating. They also offer a waiter service where you can order anything from a small snack to a 3 course meal. What a way to begin the trip of a lifetime! It began as it continued, and although it was a 12 hour flight, we were really made very comfortable (flat beds included) and arrived feeling surprisingly fresh.

On arrival at Shanghai's Pu Dong International Airport we were meet at the airport by our tour guide "Fan Lei" and transferred to the JC Mandarin Hotel, a 5 star property in the very heart of Shanghai, along Nan Jing Xi Lu which is the busy shopping and commercial district. After a quick freshen up, we were then taken on an escorted trip to the Bund (an area on the old side of the river Huangpu). We walked along the river and looked across at some of the fantastic high rise buildings on the new Pu Dong side of the city which has only been developed in the last 15 years.

The following morning we had a very early start, but it was well worth it! We went to Remin Park in the centre of the city to see The Shanghai Museum, and look at the large Bronze and Jasmine collection. On the way we watched the locals practice Tai Chi. This was fascinating and also quite amusing as one group were dancing to the Venga Boys!!

Later we went to Suzhou (pronounced Suh - joe), a 2500 year old city, about one and a half hours from Shanghai. There we saw the number 1 Silk Factory in the area and walked through the factory seeing how they turn the silk worms' cocoons into beautiful fabric. Of course, afterwards, we succumbed to the temptation to buy the factory's lovely and reasonably priced products!.
Our hotel that evening was The Sheraton Suzhou - the only 5* hotel in the city. The buildings were all very low and looked very traditional, the gardens were very beautiful and included an indoor and outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.

We went to a traditional Chinese restaurant called Old Suzhou, and our tour guide ordered all the food for us so that we were able to try what the local people would eat. The meal was lovely, although not at all like my local Chinese take away!

We were really glad to have a tour guide with us, as very few people speak English and it can be very hard to do simple things, like order a meal.

Our next stop was a small town called Tongli, an age-old water township with a history of more than 1000 years. This little town was again very different, with its little huts and very peaceful atmosphere. We were able to wonder around and look at the many souvenir shops and also take a boat ride on the narrow canals which were all around the town. I really enjoyed Tongli as it was a very traditional and gave us the opportunity to see how the locals really lived.

I wont bore you with a detailed record of the rest of my three week trip, but I think you will see from these initial experiences that the whole experience was fabulous and quite unforgetable. Even the transfer back to Pu Dong Airport on our way home was unforgetable. We went on Shanghai's new Magnetic Levitation Train. The train runs from the business district in Pu Dong directly to the airport terminal. It is the world's fastest train and reaches speeds of 300km per hour in just 2 minutes. It really emphasised how advanced the city is.

So all I can do is recommend a trip to China for any of Medway Travel's clients, and I guarantee they will become similarly overwhelmed by the history, variety and beauty they will experience!

Katie Garnish
Canterbury

One hour and twenty minutes flying from Buenos Aires you will find one of the Wonders of the Modern World. Iguaza Falls is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Iguazu River splits Argentina from Brazil and at points is some 1.5 kilometers wide. The falls line the rim of a crescent-shaped cliff about 2.5 miles long. Around 275 individual cascades and waterfalls plummet up to 269 feet into the gorge below. The thunderous roaring of Iguazu can be heard from miles away.

This stunning natural beauty has to be seen to be believed. Most tours recommend that you visit the Brazilian Side of the Falls first. This gives you a panoramic view of the falls. Your second visit should be on the Argentinean side of the falls where you can get really close to the cascading water. As the locals say 'On the Brazilian side you can see them, on the Argentinean side you feel them'.

After my flight I checked in to the Iguazu Grand Hotel, the only true 5 star hotel in the area. This is a stunning retreat with a triple swimming pool and spa facility. All rooms have either Garden or Pool Views and all have private balconies.

My first day was to visit the Brazilian Side of the falls. I was prepared for a lot of walking and having crossed the border into Brazil arrived at the National Park for the start of my walk. You should also be prepared to get a little wet as the spray from the falls, which creates masses of rainbows along the 2.5mile crescent, does create a bit of a shower in places.

The walking on this side of the falls is quite easy and on the way you will be accompanied by the local wildlife.

The Coati is a hungry and cheeky member of the Racoon family which will quite happily search through your bag for food if you bend down too close. Though not vicious you are advised not to feed them.

From this side the falls are awe inspiring. The cascades seem to go on and on.

There are two hotels on the Brazilian side at the falls, the first is the Sheraton. This is the only hotel to have a view of the falls and as such is expensive. The second hotel here is the Cataras Hotel. Both are four star properties.

It took a morning to see this side of the falls and after taking innumerable photographs returned to my hotel for an afternoon relax by the pool.

My second day was to experience the Argentinean side of the falls. The first stage of this is to take the Green Way through the forest to the train station.

This jungle walk is fascinating and you will find a profusion of birds and butterflies along the way.

The forest train then takes you on a slow journey through the forest to the Devils Throat Station. This is the largest and main part of the falls and is best seen first thing in the morning before the crowds of tourists arrive. From the train station there is a 1.5km walk across the Iguazu River. This you do on metal walkways above the river and these give you a chance to experience the wildlife that abounds in and around the river areas. The whole of the falls area is a genius in engineering with walkways that take you right up and above the falls

La Garganta del Diablo (the Devil's Throat) was made famous in the film 'The Mission' and is truly spectacular. The noise is immense as gallons of water thunder over the rocks into the abyss below.

You have the same walk back to the train station and again a short train journey back before taking the stunning Upper Level Walkway along the tops of the falls. Here you will experience the feel of the immense power of these falls. Butterflies, birds and flowers abound on the walk. Upon completion you take the Lower Level Walk again giving you a fantastic view of the falls as they cascade down onto the rocks below.

From the end of this walk you then have the option to join in the Iguazu Adventure. This is a speedboat ride to the head of the falls, but be warned - you will get wet. Here you are taken up to and into the falls for an original white knuckle ride after which you are whisked down river and eventually driven by truck back through the forest to the main station and restaurant, where you can change into something dry and enjoy a barbeque lunch.

If you wish to spend more time here there are trekking trails and safari rides that you can take into the jungle as well as an adventure camp for the kids.

Myself I felt it time to head back to my hotel and sample the delights of the spa before an enjoyable meal in the restaurant and evening beneath the southern cross and milky way.

Superb.

Stephen Cresswell - Medway Travel