itravelnet.com Travel Blog

Classic Mini Tours of London - A Cool Alternative to Big Bus Sightseeing Tours

2009-11-22T20:58:00.003+11:00

I have lived in London for two years of my life and I visit once a year for work. In all that time I have never been on a tour. The idea of getting on one of those big buses has never appealed to me.

So when I was contacted by smallcarBIGCITY and offered a ride in a British design icon, I found myself on my first tour of London.

smallcarBIGCITY provide retro tours of London in classic Mini Coopers. The Mini's range in vintage from the 60's to the 90's, and the tour guides/drivers dress the part in period 1960s uniforms. They bring swinging London to life - Italian Job style.

smallcarBIGCITY - Classic Mini Tours of London

I was met at my selected location by co-founder and driver Oliver, and fellow guide Alastair. When I saw the Mini I was wondering how a 6 foot guy would fit. I was about 4 foot when I was last in a mini. I had visions of me like a circus clown with my knees hanging out of each window. They turn out to me more roomier than than they look (like Dr Who's Tardis).

The advantage of a mini over a bus was shown as soon as we started. Being able to squeeze through small traffic lanes is a big advantage in the maze like streets of London. If there was a car built driving in London it was the Mini. At one point we veered off Whitehall (the road between Parliament and Trafalgar Square) down a narrow side alley to see a point of interest. Try doing that in a big tour bus.

I did the A-list Tour, which covers the essential London for tourists checklist. Having lived in London I thought I knew alot about the capital and I didn't think I would learn much from this tour. Boy was I wrong. I found out all sorts of interesting facts about places that I have walked past dozens of times previously. These guys really know their history, and as a fellow Londo-phile I had a great time sharing their passion for all things London.

smallcarBIGCITY have a number of tours to choose from, and you can be picked up from any location in Central London (Zone 1 on the tube map). They also provide bespoke London tours to your own requirements.

There are plenty of tours on offer in London, but if you want to do something different and in style then have a look at smallcarBIGCITY.

James went on tour courtesy of smallcarBIGCITY.

Travel Photo: Annasaule, Innsbruck - Austria

2009-11-20T01:36:00.001+11:00

Location: Innsbruck - Austria
Photo: Annasaule

Annasaule, Innsbruck - Austria.

Travel Photo Gallery: Innsbruck Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Luggage Limits

2009-11-17T14:24:00.002+11:00

Luggage Limits details baggage allowance information on all routes and ticket classes for over 60 airlines. Avoid expensive airline luggage fees by preparing before you go.

luggagelimits.com

Travel Photo: Bogor Botanical Gardens, Bogor - Indonesia

2009-11-13T14:47:00.000+11:00

Location: Bogor - Indonesia
Photo: Bogor Botanical Gardens

Bogor Botanical Gardens in Bogor, Java - Indonesia.

Travel Photo Gallery: Bogor Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Holiday Pad

2009-11-10T22:07:00.004+11:00

Holiday Pad is showcase of unusual, wonderful and downright weird ideas for a holiday.

holidaypad.net

Travel Photo: St Martins Cathedral, Mainz - Germany

2009-11-06T14:17:00.000+11:00

Location: Mainz - Germany
Photo: St Martins Cathedral

St Martins Cathedral in Mainz, Germany.

Travel Photo Gallery: Mainz Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: UrbanRail.Net

2009-11-03T21:14:00.001+11:00

UrbanRail.Net is a reference of urban railways worldwide. Includes information and maps on subways, tubes, undergrounds, U-Bahns, Metros and city railways worldwide.

urbanrail.net

Travel videos on YouTube

2009-11-02T06:39:00.003+11:00

I'm putting together a list of travel video channels on YouTube.
If you create travel videos or have a YouTube account for your travel website all you need to do is subscribe and friend my YouTube account: youtube.com/itravelnet.

I will soon be featuring a travel video here once a week so if you have an interesting travel video or know of one please contact me.

Travel Photo: Kuta Beach Trees, Kuta Bali - Indonesia

2009-10-30T14:28:00.000+11:00

Location: Kuta, Bali - Indonesia
Photo: Kuta Beach Trees

Trees on Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia.

Travel Photo Gallery: Kuta Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Whatsonwhen

2009-10-27T17:13:00.000+11:00

Worldwide events guide and travel inspiration.

whatsonwhen.com

Travel Photo: Marseille Cathedral, Marseille - France

2009-10-23T14:08:00.001+11:00

Location: Marseille - France
Photo: Marseille Cathedral

Marseille Cathedral in Marseille, France.

Travel Photo Gallery: Marseille Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Dine With Locals

2009-10-20T16:29:00.001+11:00

Dine With Locals pair tourists with locals to meet and eat dinner in their home and exchange a bit of national culture. Experience a home cooked meal of authentic, local cuisine and a taste of local culture, or be a host and enjoy a night getting to know international people from around the world.

dinewithlocals.com

Travel Photo: Big Buddha, Koh Samui - Thailand

2009-10-16T14:22:00.000+11:00

Location: Big Buddha, Koh Samui - Thailand
Photo: Big Buddha

Big Buddha in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Travel Photo Gallery: Big Buddha Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Iglu Dorf

2009-10-13T15:03:00.002+11:00

Stay in an Iglu at the Iglu Dorf Igloo Villages in Switzerland, Andorra and Germany. You can sleep overnight or just visit the village. Igloo-Villages are open from 25th of December until April and bookings are available from mid October.

iglu-dorf.com

Travel Photo: Piazza San Pietro Obelisk, St Peter's - Vatican City

2009-10-09T13:55:00.000+11:00

Location: St Peter's - Vatican City
Photo: Piazza San Pietro Obelisk

Piazza San Pietro Obelisk in the Vatican City.

Travel Photo Gallery: Vatican City Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Points.com

2009-10-06T15:19:00.002+11:00

Points.com is a frequent flyer management site where you can track all of your reward points in one location.

points.com

Travel Photo: Koutoubia Mosque, Marrakech - Morocco

2009-10-02T13:47:00.003+10:00

Location: Marrakech - Morocco
Photo: Koutoubia Mosque

Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco.

Travel Photo Gallery: Marrakech Photo Gallery

Featured Travel Site: Monastery Stays

2009-09-29T14:56:00.001+10:00

Monastery Stays is a booking service for monastery and convent accommodation in Italy. Accommodation is open to everyone and there are over 100 destinations to choose from.

monasterystays.com

Travel Photo: Temple Cave Steps And Lord Muruga Statue, Batu Caves - Malaysia

2009-09-25T12:45:00.000+10:00

Location: Batu Caves - Malaysia
Photo: Temple Cave Steps And Lord Muruga Statue

Temple Cave Steps And Lord Muruga Statue at Batu Caves, Malaysia.

Travel Photo Gallery: Batu Caves Photo Gallery

Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)

2009-09-23T12:03:00.003+10:00

Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) is the budget airline terminal for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).

LCCT is on the other side of the runway of KLIA, so you can't walk between the two terminals. There is a shuttle bus that connects KLIA and LCCT if you intend to transfer to a low cost airline.

LCCT to KLIA shuttle

LCCT Airlines

The biggest airline at the LCCT is the AirAsia group, with AirAsia, AirAsia X, Indonesia AirAsia and Thai AirAsia operating flights from here. Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways also fly here.

AirAsiaX on display

Internet

The LCC Terminal has free wifi.

Free wifi

Eating

The terminal might be basic but there is plenty of eating options. There are restaurants, cafes and a basic supermarket inside the terminal, and another food court outside the terminal near the bus stop.

Food Garden food court

LCCT Supermarket

Getting There

The cheapest and easiest way to and from Kuala Lumpur is with the Skybus or Aerobus, which departs from the bus stop outside the terminal.

Featured Travel Site: FreeToDo Travel Guides

2009-09-22T12:36:00.002+10:00

FreeToDo list free admission attractions, activites and events in UK and Ireland, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

freetodo.net

Travel Photo: Black Tower, Ceske Budejovice - Czech Republic

2009-09-18T09:41:00.002+10:00

Location: Ceske Budejovice - Czech Republic
Photo: Black Tower

Black Tower in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.

Travel Photo Gallery: Ceske Budejovice Photo Gallery

Tune Hotels - The low-cost airline of budget hotels

2009-09-17T11:14:00.003+10:00

Tune Hotels.com is a budget hotel chain from Malaysia. This hotel group is connected to AirAsia, so it has a similar pay for what you use pricing system like a low cost airline. It is similar to easyHotel, which is related to easyJet.

Tune Hotel - Kuala Lumpur

Just like a low cost airline, the price you pay depends on when you book the room. The earlier you book the cheaper the room will be. There are also the occasional crazy special offers such as rooms for 1 MYR. The best chance to get such a deal is by registering for the email newsletter.

I stayed at the Downtown KL. It's close to the Tuanku Monorail station, which terminates at KL Sentral LRT station for airport connections.

The rooms are clean and modern, and I was surprised at how much space was in the room. I had imagined it might have been a small box, like some kind of luxury flop house.

The beds are amazing as well. The beds are advertised as:

High quality King Coil spring matress beds with pillows, pillowcases, bed sheets and 250-thread count duvets.

After sleeping on some soggy guesthouse matresses I really noticed the quality here.

Tune Hotel Bed

When booking your room you can select optional extras such as:

Air Conditioning
Towel Rental + Free Essentials toiletries kit
Wireless Internet Access
Breakfast
Hairdryers

and that old favourite of the low cost airlines: Travel insurance.

Each room has a ceiling fan, which I prefer over air conditioning anyway. I didn't buy any extras when I booked, but I did end up buying internet credit when I was there.

Tune Hotel Bathroom

Featured Travel Site: AirBnB

2009-09-15T08:57:00.004+10:00

AirBnB is an online marketplace that can turn your place into a B and B. Anything from a spare room to an entire apartment can be listed. You can set your own price and you can accept or decline each application.

For prospective lodgers, you can search for destinations and read user reviews of listed accommodation.

airbnb.com

Travel Photo: Tea Plantations, Cameron Highlands - Malaysia

2009-09-11T13:03:00.002+10:00

Location: Cameron Highlands - Malaysia
Photo: Tea Plantations

Tea Plantations in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.

Travel Photo Gallery: Cameron Highlands Photo Gallery