Zion Canyon, USA Pictures
British/European and travelling to the USA? You will be required to complete an online/electronic Travel Authorisation [ESTA] form 72-hours before you fly. However, you will not have to specify precisely when you are on the move and the authorisation you receive will last for two years.
This system applies to those using the Visa Waiver Program which allows British passport holders to stay in America for less than 90 days without a visa.
America is not as gun-happy as movies would have us believe, providing you choose the right destination. It offers a massive variety of outdoor pursuits, long
self-drive trips [try the RV lifestyle!], and lively urban culture, though it's so big that tourists need to focus and not try to see everything in one holiday.
The worst thing about the USA is probably airport arrival, the routine 2/3 hours at immigration and the incredibly unpleasant customs officials. Do not joke with them! [even if they ask - as they did me on my way to Peru - if I was carrying cocaine...to Peru?!]
Best US weather: depends on holiday destination. Southern States are generally good October-March, but unbearably hot and sticky
June-September while Northern States such as Washington, New York
and Massachusetts will be very cold in winter but pleasantly warm in the summer.
USA Pictures: New
York | Las
Vegas | Burning
Man | SW USA National Parks | America's Beaches
Guides/information: USA Tours | Best
of the USA | USA Map | USA Links
US Guides
by region:
South
West: California | California Beaches | Arizona | San Francisco | Los
Angeles | 'Grand Circle' | Las Vegas
North West: Seattle | Rocky
Mountains
Great
Plains: Texas | Dallas
Southern
States: New Orleans | Florida Guide | Florida Beaches | Miami
Atlantic Coast: Washington DC | New York City | New
England | Boston
Great
Lakes: Chicago
Alaska | Alaska Pictures | Hawaii Guide | Hawaii Beaches | Hawaii Pictures
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Pictures
Canada is safe, friendly and fantastic for outdoor pursuits - especially winter sports,
wildlife and summer hiking.
There are some great city cultures both English and French speaking [notably Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City], and many fascinating
festivals.
Best Canada weather: May-September or to ski, Dec-March
[n.b. July/August: crowds, prices will be up, accommodation
difficult]
Worst: Nov-March [wet or cold] unless for winter sports.
Canada Pictures: Vancouver | British Columbia | Alberta | Toronto | Ottawa | Quebec | Quebec City | Atlantic Provinces | Churchill Polar Bears
Canada Guides: British Columbia | Alberta | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic Canada | Northern Canada
Canada
Provinces Map | Canada
Map | Canada Tours
Drakensberg Mountain walk, South Africa Pictures
South Africa is a country in the mould of Australia, with a fine climate,
hardy, amiable locals, plenty of outdoor action - particularly
hiking and surfing - and excellent robust cuisine.
Scenery is stunning, wildlife is rampant and prices are
inexpensive. Crime is a concern but is avoidable with common
sense and attention to local advice. This is a great self-drive country with stunning views and low-traffic roads.
Best South Africa weather: Spring [September-November] and Autumn
[February-May], but also good in winter [June-September].
See
also: South Africa Tours | South
Africa Beaches | South
Africa Map
South
Africa Pictures: Cape
Town | Durban | Kruger
Safari | Garden
Route
Hiking the Routeburn Track, South Island, New
Zealand Pictures
New Zealand is very safe [tho' take care not to tread on any Maori toes], world famous for magnificent walks and mad outdoor
pursuits of the bungee kind, though somewhat lacking in arts and 'culture'.
Best New Zealand weather: November-April [summer, note
that school holidays are from Dec 20th to the end of January so it's a busy
time].
Worst: the rest, though June-October is good for skiing.
See
also: New Zealand Tours | New
Zealand Walks | New
Zealand Map
New
Zealand Pictures: South Island | Tongariro | Auckland | Queenstown | Coromandel | Bay of Islands | Rotorua
Surfer's Paradise, Gold Coast beaches, Australia Pictures
Australia is a pretty safe country and especially good for beach life, partying, relaxing with friendly locals, wide-open spaces, long self-drive
trips and fun city life, though a bit short of arts and culture. It's also a popular holiday work destination.
Best Australia weather
In the south: November-March [summer]. e.g. Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania. Worst: April-Sept [south]
In the north: May-October. e.g. Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin. Worst: Nov - March [north]
Australia Guide: Holiday Destinations | Sydney | Melbourne | Cairns | Australia
Map | Australian Tours
Australia Pictures: Sydney | Melbourne | Great Ocean Road | Adelaide | Wildlife | Beaches | Uluru
Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, London, England Pictures
The UK [England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland] is fairly safe, stuffed with history, urban culture, colourful sporting events
and great walks, if you can tolerate the frequently terrible weather and glum faces.
Best UK weather: May-September.
Worst: Jan-Feb.
Guides/Information: London | Historic
Places | British Beaches | Walking | Edinburgh | England | Scotland
UK Maps: England
and Wales Counties | Scotland | England | England
and Wales Tourist Map
England Pictures: London | Oxford | Brighton | Canterbury | Bath | Stonehenge | Dorset | Cornwall | Best Beaches
Scotland Pictures: Edinburgh | Castles | Cities | Islands
A typical beautiful, lonely country road in Ireland
The Republic of Ireland [as opposed to Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom] is safe though famously wet, has a rich culture - much of it embedded in lively and attractive Dublin, many castles, lots of space and provides superb, bracing [a euphemism for wet and windy!] walks as well as a clutch of boisterous festivals.
Best Ireland weather: June-September.
Worst: January-March.
Ireland Guide and Pictures | Dublin
Travel Guide | Ireland
Map
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