USA, Zion Canyon
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 travelling and the authorisation you receive will last for two years.
This system applies to travellers 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: depends on the target area. Southern States are generally good Oct-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.
Photos: New
York | Las
Vegas | Burning
Man | SW USA National Parks
Guides or Information: USA Tours | Best
of the USA | USA Map | USA Links
US Guides
by region:
South
West: California | Arizona | San Francisco | Los
Angeles | 'Grand Circle' | Las Vegas
North West: Seattle | Rocky
Mountains
Great
Plains: Texas | Dallas
Southern
States: New Orleans | Florida | Miami
Atlantic Coast: Washington DC | New York City | New
England | Boston
Great
Lakes: Chicago
Alaska | Hawaii
Canada, slopes above Vancouver
Canada is safe, friendly and fantastic for outdoor pursuits - especially wintersports,
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: May-Sept or to ski, Dec-March
[n.b July/August: crowds, prices will be up, accomodation
difficult]
Worst: Nov-March [wet or cold] unless for winter sports.
Pictures: Canada | Vancouver | British Columbia | Alberta | Toronto | Ottawa | Quebec | Quebec City | Atlantic Provinces
Guides: Canada | British Columbia | Alberta | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic Canada | Northern Canada
Canada
Provinces Map | Canada
Map | Canada Tours
South Africa, a Drakensberg Mountain walk
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: Spring [Sept-Nov] and Autumn
[Feb-May], but also good in winter [June-Sept].
See
also: South Africa Tours | South
Africa Beaches | South
Africa Map
Pictures: South
Africa | Cape
Town | Durban | Kruger
Safari | Garden
Route
New Zealand, Hiking the Routeburn Track, South Island
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: Nov-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-Oct is good for skiing.
See
also: New Zealand Tours | New
Zealand Pictures | New
Zealand Walks | New
Zealand Map
Australia, Surfer's Paradise, the Gold Coast
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 in the south: Nov-March [summer]. e.g. Sydney, Melbourne, Tasmania. Worst: April-Sept [south]
Best in the north: May-Oct. e.g. Cairns, Great Barrier Reef, Darwin. Worst: Nov - March [north]
Guides/information: Sydney | Melbourne | Cairns | Australia
Map | Australian Tours
Pictures: Australia | Sydney | Australian Beaches | Uluru
UK, England, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, London
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: April-Sept. [July/August
are crowded, prices will be up, accomodation difficult] Worst: Jan-Feb.
Guides/Information: London | Historic
Places | Walking | Edinburgh | England | Scotland
Maps: England
and Wales Counties | UK | Scotland | England | England
and Wales Tourist Map
Photos: London | Edinburgh | England | Scotland
Ireland, a typical country road
The Republic of Ireland [as opposed to Northern Ireland, which is part of the Unted 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. Ireland
Map
Best: May-September.
Worst: Jan-Feb.
See: Dublin
Travel Guide
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