Travelore Tips For Your First Trip To Toronto

If you are planning a trip to Toronto, you will be spoilt for choice in this exciting, and vibrant city where there is so much to do, and so much to see. Although not the capital, Toronto is Canada’s largest city – make the most of your time there with our top 10 tips by blogger Ceri Tinley:

CN Tower

This 1,815 ft structure, which until 2007 was the tallest building in the world, is undoubtedly the defining feature of Toronto’s skyline. The glass fronted elevators will whiz you up to the Look Out level at a speed of 20 ft per second, where you will enjoy breath taking views of the city. Walking across the Glass Floor, suspended 1,122 ft above the ground might take a little bit of persuasion if you are afraid of heights, but just keep telling yourself that it has been built to withstand the weight of 14 hippos, and you will be fine. If you are feeling exceptionally brave, you might like to try the Edge Walk which involves circumnavigating the tower whilst attached to a safety harness.

High Park

This enormous public park offers a haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There are playgrounds, sports facilities, and picnic areas, hiking trails and even a zoo where you can see buffalo, bison, lama and deer. Don’t miss the “maple leaf circle” at the bottom of Hillside Gardens.

Toronto Islands

A fifteen minute ferry ride from down-town Toronto will transport you to this peaceful retreat. Toronto Islands provide a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, with a beautiful view of Lake Ontario on one side, and a stunning view of the city skyline on the other. With bike rides and boat rides, beautiful gardens and sandy beaches, this is the perfect place to be on a hot summer’s day. The Rectory Café is well worth a visit.

Kensington Market

Declared a National Historic Site in 2006, this colourful and quirky multi-ethnic hub is a delight to behold. With its bustling street scene, shops selling vintage clothes and an array of food from all around the world, the atmosphere is slightly edgy but friendly and welcoming at the same time.

Sassafraz

Situated in rather quirky looking yellow Victorian house right in the heart of Yorkville, Sassafraz offers a pleasing selection of French inspired Canadian dishes served with with an air of calm and sophistication.

Niagara Falls

This natural wonder of the world is only 81 miles away from Toronto, which makes it easily accessible within a day. The town itself is surprisingly tacky, but the breathtaking beauty of the falls more than compensates. The mesmerising Maid of the Mist boat ride is an absolute must.

Royal Ontario Museum

One of the largest in North America, the Royal Ontario is a museum of world culture and natural history. Highlights include the dinosaurs, Spirit House and Stair of Wonders. It’s worth visiting just to see the great prisms of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal bursting out of the walls of the original 100 year old building.

Canada’s Wonderland

With its 15 roller coasters, 65 rides and 200 attractions, Canada’s premier amusement park is guaranteed to keep the family happy for the whole day.

Shopping

The Eaton Centre claims to be Canada’s premier shopping destination, and as shopping centre experiences go, it is indeed a fairly pleasant one. With a multitude of international retailers and restaurants housed in a spectacular glass galleria, you should be able to find everything your heart desires all under one roof.

Hockey game

Most Canadians are passionate about Hockey and if you get the chance to go to a game, you should take it. It’s fast, furious and exciting. If you want to ingratiate yourself with the fans, make sure you refer to the sport simply as “hockey”, rather than, “ice hockey” as we might say in the UK.

By Alexandra Hobbs 

Travelore Tips: Recommended Things To Do In Hong Kong

In a city that is only 1,000 square kilometres, how much can there realistically be to do? Most visitors to Hong Kong scour the city from the Peak, shop till their hearts drop and eat well, but after your stomachs are full and your wallets are empty, what’s left?, blogs Chinmoy Lad. Here are three alternative itineraries you can enjoy on your next trip to Hong Kong:

Take a harbour cruise

The coastline and surrounding waters of Hong Kong is one of the busiest harbours in the world, and therefore one of the city’s greatest assets. It is no surprise that boat trips are popular, particularly in summer with a group of friends or to celebrate special occasions.

Aqua Luna offers high-end catered harbour cruises to celebrate such special occasions. The pictured Aqua Luna, with its bright red sails, is distinguishable from a distance. Modelled after an old Chinese junk boat, the handcrafted boat was was built specifically for the Aqua Restaurant Group, employing only traditional shipbuilding methods.

For a more cost-efficient option, there’s always the Star Ferry, an iconic institution that still traverses from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon. While the ride is much shorter now than it used to be thanks to heavy reclamation and the resulting inevitable narrowing of the harbour, it is still one of the city’s most incredible attractions, used as much as a mode of transport as a tourist hotspot.

For more incredible sights and sounds that make up Hong Kong, from the commonly visited sites to the more obscure, check out the official Hong Kong Tourism Board Facebook fan page, Discover Hong Kong.

Go hiking

Despite its relatively small physical size, Hong Kong’s unique topography provides ample opportunities for nature lovers to explore the wilderness. Approximately only 30% of the land area is actually developed, and a large part of the remainder is specifically reserved as protected country parks and geo parks. The range of topography varies from open grasslands and dense woodlands that encase reservoirs, mountain peak ranges (including the “nine dragons” of Kowloon – a transliteral definition of Kowloon) that rise nearly 1,000 metres from sea level, to sparse, untouched white-sandy beaches that culminate in crystal clear waters that make you feel as if you’ve entered paradise.

As such, hiking (and camping, although not quite as rustic as you imagine it) is a popular activity among enthusiasts, hosting some of the most scenic vistas you would never expect from a trip to one of the world’s most dense cities. The trails range from simple walks upon paved roads, such as the family-friendly walk up Mount Butler/Mount Parker or up to The Peak, to scenic but easy walks along dirt roads such as Dragon’s Back that ends in Shek O, to difficult yet worthy and lengthy expeditions such as sections along the MacLehose Trail in northeastern Sai Kung.

Explore the colonial past

The British Empire governed Hong Kong for over 150 years, so it’s no surprise they left a lasting legacy in this small colony, the crown in the jewel of the Empire at its peak. Arguably, the quintessential British experience is to enjoy afternoon tea at The Peninsula. Afternoon tea is now as much a Hong Kong institution as it is British, with every eatery from small restaurants and cake cafes to cha-chaan-tengs (local restaurants) respectively serving their own twist of the classic.

Alternatively, explore the past in further detail with visits to museums, or key destinations where Victorian-era buildings and neoclassical-inspired structures have stood still, albeit currently used in an entirely more commercial form than previously intended, including the pictured Fringe Club, built in 1892. While many of the city’s glorious buildings were decimated to make room for ‘urban development’ in the past, the recent trend is towards conservation, and more heritage buildings are now appropriately repurposed and their interiors redesigned, while maintaining most of their previous facade.

Source: www.airguideonline.com 

'Gett' App Offering Unlimited $10 Car Rides In Manhattan For The Rest Of 2014

This is kind of -- scratch that, TOTALLY -- awesome.

New "black car" app Gett is offering unlimited rides throughout Manhattan for a measly $10 during the rest of 2014, the New York Post reports.

The promotion starts today -- users must simply download the app and book one of the service's 3,000-odd cars to begin booking flat-rate rides.

It doesn't matter if you're going from "Harlem to Wall Street," stated an official app release. It "doesn’t matter if you’re stuck in traffic for 2 hours," either.

This is probably the most exciting thing to happen since ride service Uber announced a collaboration with United Airlines last month. Uber has quickly gained traction in the NYC area, duking it out with standard taxis for customers.

The Gett app, whose user interface looks uncannily similar to Uber's, launched in NYC last year. It calls itself "Uber's #1 competitor."

And with prices like these, we've gotta say Uber is getting a run for its (literal) money.

The Huffington Post  | By Suzy Strutner

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What Nobody Tells You About Your Favorite Tourist Attractions

We've all felt the blow of a travel letdown and ridden the high when a place far exceeds our expectations.

Before your next visit to a major tourist attraction, brace yourself -- for better or for worse -- by learning what you're really in for.

The Great Wall of China is STEEP.
One trekker recalls ascending 4,000 stairs just to get to the lowest possible entry point for a walk along the Wall. Sure there’s a gondola, but that’s beside the point -- we would just wish someone had told us what a monster the thing was before we decided to hike it. 

There's a Pizza Hut at the Pyramids. 
...and it's right on top of a KFC, which means the views of Giza are priceless. Watch out for the camel handlers outside, though: they've been known to pitch a modest price for a ride, then make you pay exorbitant amounts to get down from the camel. 

The "Mona Lisa" plays hard to get. 
A line divider keeps visitors far from the painting itself. Stuck behind hordes of camera-wielding tourists, you'll be even farther.

You can touch stuff at Pompeii.
If the "Mona Lisa" is so off-limits, you'd think ancient ruins would be encased in a massive glass box. Yet you can touch, stand and sit on many of Pompeii's remnants. 

Dead Sea salt will fry your eyeballs.
"Fry" might not be the correct medical term, but it will indeed burn like crazy. The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, so you should avoid shaving your legs a few days before your dip and make sure you don't dunk your face -- it'll hurt. And "if you swallow seawater, request help from the lifeguard."

Iguazu Falls can be... brown?
When imagining "one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world," cascades of turquoise blue likely come to mind. But be warned: the water is closer to the tone of rich Brazilian coffee in some spots due to deforestation and during times ofheavy rainfall. 

There's a quicker way up the Eiffel Tower.
Ascending the Parisian jewel is no easy experience: it's not unusual to wait hours for an elevator. Sneaky shortcuts include buying tickets online to pre-book an arrival slot or climbing the stairs to the second level instead of taking a lift from the bottom like most tourists.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa isn't "leaning" as much anymore.
"Straightening out" is the more appropriate verb -- the tower recovered almost an inch of its vertical incline between 2001 and 2013. Visitors also complain that there's not much to do in Pisa itself (though some would disagree). Most guided tours drive you in, let you snap some photos, and bus you right back out.

Lady Liberty is exclusive.
You must reserve a spot ahead of time to enter the Statue of Liberty's headpiece. There's a maximum of four crown reservations allowed per order and only one reservation per person during any six-month period.

The Gardens of Versailles are better than the Palace.
This isn't the dinky plot of flowers behind most castles -- the gardens and park spill over almost 2,000 acres of fairytale-ish fountains, grottoes and pathways. Don't skip them!

You can't just "go see 'The Last Supper.'"
Da Vinci's famous painting is in the refectory (aka dining hall) of the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent in Milan, but don't you dare think it's possible to just saunter in. You'll need to reserve a visitation time up to two months in advance, and you can only stay inside the refectory for 15 minutes. If tickets are sold out, risk it by going standby, or consider joining a guided tour that includes the painting as a stop.

Old Faithful isn't very faithful.
You could wait around for almost two hours before that big guy erupts. 

Photos are forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.
Even sneaking a shot is near impossible.

The Grand Canyon doesn't take drop-ins.
It's a stunning sight from the rim. But if you're craving more, don't count on a casual jaunt to the Canyon floor. The National Park Service warns there are no easy trails into or out of the Canyon: "the difference between a great hike or a trip to the hospital is up to you." Day hikes exist, but can be long and might include unpaved trails, icy conditions or a total absence of water stops. Don't forget thatcoming up takes twice as long as hiking down.

Solo shots at the Trevi Fountain are RARE.
Photos come easy for Lizzie McGuire, but you'll have to fight for yours. Do you SEE those crowds?!

 |Contributed By Suzy Strutner,The Huffington Post 

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3 Must-See Museums In Spain

Spain’s fantastic cities offer some of the best weekend trips in Europe  – it’s easy to spend a sunny holiday in Spain lolling on the beach or exploring historic sites and cobbled alleyways, and lively evenings hopping between tapas bars and clubs until long after bedtime.

However, Spain is also home to some of the best art museums in the world; Madrid’s wonderful but crowded Prado is the most famous, but a trip to a lesser-known or further-out museum can be more relaxing and illuminating.

These exquisite museums in Spain boast thought-provoking pieces from the ultra-modern to those that are millennia old, and serve up some of the world’s most iconic architecture on the side…

Guggenheim Bilbao

The Guggenheim in Bilbao is one of four museums worldwide run by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, and the undulating silver building by Frank Gehry is one of the most beloved examples of modern architecture in the world.

Always controversial and cutting edge, the Guggenheim showcases contemporary and avant-garde pieces that have changed the way the world sees art.

Much of the collection focusses on post-war painting and sculpture by artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell and Richard Serra.

The Guggenheim is closed on Mondays, and admission is €11 for adults with concessions for students, groups and seniors, while children get in for free.

Visit in 2013 to catch the ‘Inhabited Architecture’ exhibition, which explores the permanent collection to “conceive of the occupation of space as a place full of existing narratives or narratives yet to be created”.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

This behemoth occupies a Neo-classical mansion in Madrid, and showcases one of the world’s most important private art collections. It illustrates the history of Western art from primitive Italian and Flemish paintings to 20th century favourites from Miró, Dali, Bacon and Pollock.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza’s renaissance works, however, steal the show; particular highlights are Van Eyck’s lifelike ‘Diptych of the Annunciation’ and Holbein’s powerful portrait of Henry VIII.

Getting to the Thyssen-Bornemisza is easy, and entry is free for children under 12 and those with a ‘Madrid tourist card’. Otherwise the standard ticket price is €6, with concessions for students and pensioners.

The Picasso Museum

If you love the mystery and expression of Picasso’s strange world, then seek out the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Collections display his works in chronological order, so the viewer can journey through his development and stylistic periods.

Located on one of Barcelona’s most vibrant and beautiful streets, Carrer Montcada, the museum is an easel’s throw away from a wide selection of bustling restaurants, cafes and boutique shops.

Entry to the museum costs €4-9, depending on whether you visit with a group. The Barcelona Card offers 50% discount on entry to the Picasso Museum, and many other museums too.

Free English-speaking tours of the Picasso Museum and Picasso’s favorite spots in the city take place on Thursdays at 6pm and Saturdays at midday; seeing this bewitching and creative city through Picasso’s eyes casts a new light on both the city and the artist.

If you’ve already been to the Prado and Reina Sofia and want something a little bit different, these three collections offer a great starting point.

There are hundreds of smaller (or not-so-small) art collections and museums across the country if you’re interested in delving further into Spain’s world-class museums and cultural life during your travels. Which is your favorite?

Contributed by Aswetravel 

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Turin – Italy’s Forgotten Food Capital

by Sofia 

Before we traveled to Turin we knew very little about the city other than that it was known for its car production

Little did we know that Turin is also a foodie’s heaven, something that we discovered during our time there. Not many people seem to know about this great gastronomical treasure of northern Italy – it’s almost as though it as been forgotten of.

The locals claim that the reason is because they don’t brag and tell everyone about how great their food is, they just know it’s the best…

Europe’s Largest Open-Air Market

In Turin you will find the largest open-air fruit and vegetable market in Europe.

Full of life, the bustling market starts in the morning (around 8am) and goes on until 2pm. This is where the locals go to buy their weekly food shopping, and a great place to soak up the Italian atmosphere.

Selling seasonal fruits and vegetables by the kilo, you can easily buy a whole week of greens for €6, and it’s the perfect place to put together a cheap pic nic lunch before heading over to one of the parks nearby.

Giandujotto

If you’re a chocolate fan, prepare to be in for a real treat! What was originally an attempt to “thin out” chocolate to make it more affordable turned into one of the most delicious chocolate treats ever: the Gianduja.

A mixture of chocolate and hazelnuts, the Gianduja comes in bite sized treats called Giandujotto, and can be bought pretty much anywhere in Turin. They’re seriously some of the most amazing chocolate treats I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate in my life..!

To give you an idea of the flavor, Gianduja was the inspiration to the more famous (and cheaper) Nutella spread we all love so much – which in Turin they throw into almost everything, from coffee to snacks.

Bicerin

We’ve written before about Turin’s obsession for chocolate, and the Bicerin is one of its proudest inventions. A hot chocolate/coffee drink, Bicerin is a unique drink of Turin, and a must-try for cool evenings.

Zabaglione

Another warm drink typical for Turin is Zabaglione, an alcoholic type of egg-nod, where the egg is whipped into a foam, and you basically eat the drink with a spoon.
It’s sweet, a little sticky, and has a strong alcoholic liqueur flavor.

Biscotti & Bagnati

To go with their hot chocolate coffee drinks, the Savoy family that ruled Piedmont invented bite sized biscuits to dip in their hot drinks.

These delights made especially to be dunked come in many different flavors and varieties, some of the most famous are Baci di Dama, Canestrelli and Savoiardi – better known as ladies fingers.

Our favorite were Torcetti (in the lower left corner), but there is really an infinite variety of specialities waiting to seduce you and be enjoyed in Turin’s small, traditional patisseries.

At Caffé al Bicerin (famous for their Bicerin) you can order a plate of assorted traditional biscuits for €6 to go with your drink – they’re definitely worth it!

Ferrero Rocher

As if the fact that Turin invented eating chocolate wasn’t enough, one of the most famous gourmet chocolates in the world – Ferrero Rocher, was also invented in Turin.

Wine

The Piedmont region of Turin is famous for their wine, especially of the red sort.

One of the perks of Italy, and especially Piedmont, is that wine can be bought everywhere, and surprisingly cheap.

In some of the cheaper restaurants such as “Brek” you just grab a jug of the size you want and pour wine from a tap lie it was water!

Two glasses can cost as little as €1,70, not to mention the prices of bottles from a wine shop of supermarket.

If you like wine that is a little tangy, you’ll love Italian wine.

Aperitivo

Turin claims to be the inventor of so many things it’s almost a bit of a joke; one cafe even claims the fame for “bite sized sandwiches”, and prize them accordingly…

The city is apparently also where “aperitivo” was invented, a sort of “happy hour” thing when you buy a drink and get a buffet or snacks for free.

Unlike “happy hour”, drinks aren’t usually cheaper, but you get free food included. For a proper buffet expect to pay €9, but if you just want to enjoy a refreshing Aperol Spritz with some peanuts and chips you can get a drink for as little as €4 (at least from our favorite local hangout, Roger Bar at Via Torquato Tasso 9).

Slow Food Movement

The invasion of fast food joints popping up like a plague across Italy in the 80’s gave birth to a new food revolution – the Slow Food Movement.

This new movement began in the Piedmont region (in a town called Bra close to Turin) and was aimed to reclaim the meaning of eating in Italy, and offer the public good food carefully made with love, rather than pre-made reheated burger patties.

While the Supermarket/Restaurant Eataly is the most famous, there are many great slow food restaurants all over Turin.

Truffles

The Piedmont area is not only one of the best wine growing areas in Italy, but also the best for growing the exotic (and expensive) Truffels.

Every year Turin holds a truffle festival where the best chefs from around the world travel to the city to seek out the best truffles for their restaurants.

If you’re interested in visiting Turin and sample their amazing food, Co-op Travel offers some great holiday packages to Italy, where you can easily make Turin part of a day-trip.

Next time you travel through northern Italy make sure you stop over in Turin for a day or two to sample their great food!

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What To Eat In Switzerland: 5 Foods Beyond Fondue

 Guest Post written by Matt Connolly: Switzerland does dairy well – the molten variety in particular. There’s something rather brilliant about eating hot bubbling cheese or chocolate while you sit nestled among the snowy Alps and this a scene the Swiss have nailed.

From chocolate shops through to cafes serving raclette and fondue, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge a penchant for all things warm and milky in Switzerland, but if Emmental, Gruyere or Vacherin don’t do it for you, you’ll find plenty of other local cuisine to tempt your tastebuds.

The Swiss have taken much influence from their neighbors in some of their favorite foods, so expect to find a touch of the French, Italian and German about some dishes.

Traditionally a country of farmers, simple foods reign supreme in this region, but don’t be fooled – there are still a wealth of fine dining establishments.

In fact, Schloss Schauenstein was ranked 30 in the list of the World’s Best restaurants last year and boasts the rather grand setting of a castle. Of course, top class dining anywhere in the world doesn't come cheap.

You can price up the cost of the Castle’s different course offerings using Travelex’s currency converter here - if it’s a little out of your price range, worry not.

Here are some top Swiss dishes you can sample in small and inexpensive eateries on the streets of Switzerland…

Rösti

Forget hash browns – the proper crisp potato goods you should be heaping on your breakfast place are rosti and the Swiss are big fans.

Eat with eggs and cheese on top for breakfast, or serve as a side to mop up creamy sauces with at dinner time.

Cervelas

This is a very special sausage made predominantly of pork, which crackles up nicely when grilled. Originally the sausage also contained brain, though this ingredient is now thankfully prohibited..!

Sausages in general are very popular in Switzerland thanks to German and Italian influences, so expect to see a Bratwurst or two.

Älplermagronen

This herdsmen’s pasta dish is a Swiss staple. Alongside the key components of pasta and cheese, expect to come across bits of bacon and potato in your Alpine macaroni.

This is definitely not a diet friendly option but it is certainly very tasty and comforting and there’s a slim chance the applesauce Alpermagronen is traditionally served with counts towards one of your five a day.

Leckerli

This biscuit/cake dates back to the 1400s, which pre-dates the Swiss’s love of chocolate and shows they’ve long had a sweet tooth. Made from honey, it’s flavoured with finger and often topped with sugary glaze and candied fruit and nuts.

Müsli

It has become a gourmet breakfast choice all over the world but muesli is a Swiss creation. Invented by Dr Bircher at a diet clinic in 1887, it’s traditionally served with   yoghurt or cream rather than milk and though predominantly eaten at breakfast time, it also makes a tasty supper snack.

Look For Local Products

Another thing to keep in mind when visiting Switzerland is that every region has its own local specialties. In Graubunden for example, they are very proud of their traditional Bündner Nusstorte (nut cakes), a delicious but slightly dry pastry.

Around Vevey you will find some great local wines in the vineyards that surround the small villages on the hills, and since milk chocolate was actually invented in Vevey there is a lot of chocolate fondues on offer as well.

You will also find that depending on which region you visit, the cuisine will either be Italian, French or German influenced.

by Sofia 

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