Travel 2013

Everything

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InOut | THE CPH POST ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

11 - 17 January 2013

BELLA CENTER TRAVEL FAIR

WELCOME I

T’S ONLY just occurred to me that the song ‘Holiday’ isn’t even about a holiday. All these years and I thought Madonna was making a profound commentary on how Americans are content to ‘holiday’ at home and never experience the big wide world outside their borders. Yeah baby: “In every nation/ It’s time for the good times/Forget about the bad times/One day to come together” – a bit like ‘Imagine’ I always thought.

But Madonna’s American, innit!

She’s singing about a day off work, not a trip abroad – she would have called it ‘Vacation’ otherwise, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Not sure I like that word. It implies you’ve vacated somewhere and that somewhere was infested by insects. And then when you vacation somewhere else, you take them all with you.

Sadly for many of us, this is an alltoo familiar scenario. A hastily booked package tour, too last-minute to properly assess the alternatives, and then seven flea-bitten, undernourished days later, you return to your homeland more in need of a break than before you left.

This is where the Travel Fair comes in. Under just one roof, it has every type of holiday that you can possibly imagine, to every corner of the planet: hot/ cold, sporty/relaxing, expensive/cheap, faraway/local, family/singles, quiet/relentless – it’s all here at the Bella Center to peruse, so you can take your time and select the kind of holiday that suits you.

Save yourself the heartbreak of wading through hundreds of villas that all look the same, website comments that look suspiciously like they’ve been written by the resort itself, and details that look like they’ve been Google translated and run through a pigeon English spellchecker.

After all, this is the most significant purchase you’ll probably make this year – the least you can do is dedicate the time it deserves, and a couple of hours spent looking for the ideal booking in return for a couple of weeks of bliss sounds like a fair trade-off to me.

So whatever you call it – holiday, vacation, sabbatical, beano – the Travel Fair has all the answers. All you need to do is attend.

BEN HAMILTON

TO THE PLEASURE DOME

Start dreaming find the vacation you’ve been dreaming of at the 2013 ferie & fritid travel expo

The first leg of your summer holiday begins Jan 18-20 at Bella Center. Come visit the Ferie & Fritid travel expo to find great deals on trips. While at the expo, make sure to take part in our exciting activities and register for one of our prize drawings. Need inspiration about what to do on your next holiday? You’ll find plenty of information about:

Holiday & leisure travel • Camping • diving • golf • sport • World travel • Holiday Homes

18 - 20 JANuARY 2013 READ MORE ON ferieibella.dk

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Inout | The cph post entertainment guide

11 - 17 January 2013

Bella center travel fair

Everything

You need to know

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ooking for an escape route from the annual trips to the inlaws’ summer-house? Or perhaps you just enjoy the week of inevitable dampness and claustrophobic sheltering indoors, perusing well-thumbed copies of Se og Hør or emulating our Ryder Cup heroes on the dilapidated local mini-golf course. Because a short Metro ride to the Bella Center on the days between 18 and 20 January can give you some inspiration for planning the perfect getaway – or failing that, a chance to dream.

The Holiday Fair has areas dedicated to travel, camping, sport, golf, diving and holiday homes. You can sample gastronomic specialities from the four corners of the globe, watch the world come to you in the Film Lounge, try a whole variety of sports and leisure activities, take instruction in diving in one of the specially constructed pools, as well as visiting all the usual stands from the well-established travel agencies. For kids with itchy feet, Legoworld, Pippiworld and the CPH diveshow should provide plenty to keep them busy.

Revisiting Herr Hitler and Pearl Harbour Cultours is a travel agency with a difference. It will march you off to historical destinations such as Hitler’s underground rocket factory near Harzen where prisoners from the local concentration camp manufactured V1 and V2 rockets. Cultours’ idea of a beach holiday is a jaunt to the D-Day invasion beaches of Normandy or even a more upmarket and exotic excursion to Pearl Harbour. Expert guides are provided,

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Bella Center, Centre Boulevard 5, 2300 Cph S; starts Fri Jan 18, ends Sun Jan 20, open Fri & Sat 10:00-18:00, Sun 10:00-17:00; tickets: over-12s 90kr, under-12s 45kr, under-fours free adm, two adults, two kids: 200kr; www.ferieibella.dk

but recently Cultours has decided to harness the technology of the iPad and let its guests in Tokyo and New York wander around alone minus the jabbering guide, but with the security of the all-knowing iPad informing and leading the way.

gives you the chance to buy your own sumptuous summer-house close to the palm-lined beaches of Thailand, complete with a five-year rental agreement if you want to rent out the property. This could be one for those with one eye on retirement.

Whisky galore on the high road

Be the James Bond of the campsite

“You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road” − quite literally, if you are a guest of Liselotte Douglas. Her marriage to a Scotsman and career as a stress coach inspired her to lead groups of Danes from Holy Island to the remote whisky distilleries of the Glens. Her tours not only have a root in the love of trekking in the beautiful Highlands, but also in the philosophies of mindfulness where the rhythm of your walking boots will take over and give you a feeling of being completely in the moment.

Want to feel like a dashing James Bond recently equipped by gadget specialist Q? Well, that’s admittedly a bit of an exaggeration, but AB Camping will be demonstrating its range of thief-beating Pacsafe products including: Wire security nets for backpacks, a lockable iPod case that still allows you to listen to music, a well-disguised belt with a secret pocket for notes and coins, and stylish handbags with steel wire sewn into the shoulder strap. All designed to give you peace of mind while on holiday.

Adventures with Pippi For the nostalgic travellers, a trip to Sweden is on the cards, for who can resist the charms of Pippi Longstocking? A quick trip over the water to Vimmerby transports you and the family to Astrid Lindgren’s world. Familiar characters − including Karlsson på taket (on the roof ), Emil, Ronja Røverdatter (the robber’s daughter) and the pigtailed Pippi − entertain the guests in streets and houses taken from Lindgren’s beloved books.

Summer-houses in summery locations “Let’s buy a summer house,” says your significant other. It’s time to up the stakes with a visit to the Oriental Invest stand. You might have seen them on TV in ‘Hammerslag’, the guess-the-houseprice TV show on DR1. Oriental Invest

A smile on your face in more ways than one Canal trips are a classic highlight of many a tourist destination, but rarely root canal treatment. Tandrejser combines quality dental treatment at Hungarian prices with a day or two in the bustling city of Budapest. Tandrejser works together with a dental clinic in Budapest to offer all-inclusive package tours that provide interpreters, taxis from the airport and a hotel room in the centre of town. No need to feel down in the mouth with Danish dentist bills − an overnight stay in Hungary will soon put the smile back on your face.

So even if the financial crisis has hit you hard, the Holiday Fair will be a place where, for 90kr, you can allow yourself to dream a little. Perhaps there is an alternative after all in 2013 to the musty cottages of the Danish coast.

Pete Streader

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11 - 17 January 2013

From indulging Robinson Crusoe fantasies in the Polynesian paradise of the Cook Islands to black rhino-spotting in Zimbabwe’s strikingly beautiful hinterland, Ruth Styles rounds up the destinations that should be at the top of your list over the next 12 months The comeback kid: Sri Lanka

Years of war and the 2004 tsunami have kept Sri Lanka off most itineraries, but thanks to massive government investment and the end of hostilities in 2009, the country is firmly back on the tourist map. All of which is good news for travellers because Sri Lanka has much to offer. A 2,000-year-old culture, eight UNESCO sites, palmfringed beaches and tropical jungle inland make it one of the Indian Ocean’s most diverse places to holiday, while the low prices make it more accessible than most.

Having a moment: truly ‘great’ Britain

Call it the Olympic effect if you like, but there’s no denying that Britain is having a moment.

Forbes magazine’s most culturally-influential country of 2012 has even more to offer in 2013, including the opening of Europe’s tallest building, London’s Renzo Piano-designed Shard, in February, and a wealth of cultural and music festivals to look

forward to during the summer months. Away from the capital, head west to Northern Ireland’s Londonderry – the UK capital of culture for 2013 – and south to Cornwall, where you’ll find spectacular beaches and some seriously bijou places to stay.

The diver’s dream: Tobago

Frequently overshadowed by its larger sister island, Trinidad, Tobago offers a beguiling combination of perfect white sand beaches, few tourists and some of the best diving in the world.

The Japanese Gardens reef just off Speyside in the north of the island is home to the world’s largest brain coral, while Buccoo Reef has enough marine life to keep you entertained for hours. Stay at the Magdalena Grand (magdalenagrand.com), where along with wonderful sea views, you’ll find the Caribbean’s best piña coladas courtesy of its consistently charming barman, Kevin.

Off beaten tracks: the Philippines

Both culturally and physically separate from the rest of Asia, the Philippines remain relatively undiscovered, although that’s largely down to its size. With more than 7,000 islands, there’s enough room to keep even the most intrepid explorer busy for months, while for everyone else, there’s miles of gleaming white beaches, emerald-green paddy fields and the exhilarating organised shambles that is the capital, Manila. While the country has no shortage of backpacker-type dive hotels, it’s garnering a reputation for serious luxury, courtesy of its growing army of boutique hotels. The tiny 15-room Eskaya (eskayaresort.com), tucked away on the tropical Panglao Island, is a case in point.

Back to its best: Beirut

The Lebanese capital has had a bad press in the past, largely due to the civil war that ripped the country apart during the ‘80s.

Although the bullet holes remain, the city is now a vibrant

hotspot that is swiftly becoming one of the best places to party in the Middle East. Wonderful Ottoman and colonial-era architecture make it easy on the eye, as do the snow-capped Lebanon Mountains that flank the city’s eastern boundary. Thanks to the maniacal drivers, crossing the road is an extreme sport, but most of the locals are warmly welcoming.

real Wild West: Arizona

Complete with towering cacti, miles of dusty desert and oldfashioned frontier towns, Arizona is the perfect place to indulge your inner cowboy. At the White Stallion Ranch (whitestallion. com) in the Saguaro National Park, you can try your hand at traditional Western pastimes such as team cattle penning and horse-whispering before retreating to the equine-themed bar for a chilled out sun-downer. Further north, the mighty Grand Canyon and red massifs of Monument Valley are geological marvels that are not to be missed.

Nordic cool: Stockholm

Copenhagen might be leading the Nordic revival, but Stockholm is teed up to give the Danish capital a real run for its money in 2013. In May, the new ABBA museum opens in Djurgarden, while this month sees the launch of Nosh & Chew – a ridiculously cool addition to Stockholm’s smorgasbord of dining options, located at the equally stylish Berns Hotel (berns.se). The Swedish capital is also gaining ground on its Danish rival thanks to the enduring popularity of Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and its kick-ass heroine, Lisbeth Salander. Sarah who?

Remote paradise: the Cook Islands

Scattered across the western Pacific Ocean, the Cook Islands are a tropical wonderland that marry a 1,000-year-old Polynesian culture with the opportunity to let your inner Robinson Crusoe run riot. Rarotonga, the largest of the 15 islands, offers a magical mixture of dense wildlife-

filled jungles, jagged sawtooth peaks, bone-white beaches and the chance to relax in style at the isolated Te Vakaroa Villas (tevakaroa.com). Overlooking the stunning Muri Lagoon, each of the six cottages comes with a private infinity pool and a personal guide.

perfect city break: New Orleans

An area that has become synonymous with the word ‘hurricane’ might not sound like the ideal spot for a break, but New Orleans – and the surrounding state of Louisiana – are well worth the price of a plane ticket. Swampy bayous, cleaned-up golden sand beaches and New Orleans’ FrancoAmerican brand of bonhomie make the region completely irresistible. The old French Quarter remains a vibrant place to tuck into a plate of fried catfish, while the Afro-Caribbean soundtrack emanating from the bars and clubs provides the perfect foil for the city’s grand European-style architecture.

special section

Inout | The cph post entertainment guide

11 - 17 January 2013

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Where to go on holiday this year

adventurous in Africa: Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

This year’s Livingstone bicentenary is the perfect excuse to take a fresh look at southern Africa Zimbabwe in particular. Although the malign influence of Robert Mugabe is still evident, away from Harare you’ll find some of the most beauteous countryside on Earth, diverse wildlife and incredibly friendly people. Head to the Malilangwe Reserve in the remote Chiredzi district to take a closer look at the animals, as well as the chance to indulge in some dictator-approved luxury – Pamushana (singita.com), the reserve’s eco-friendly lodge, was once a favoured destination of the Gaddafi clan.

Natural born thriller: Lewa Conservancy, Kenya

Owned by the well-connected Craig family, the Lewa Conservancy (lewasafaricamp.com) in northern Kenya is famous for its record-breaking numbers of Grévy’s zebra and for being the spot where Prince William broke a million aspiring princesses’ hearts by proposing to Kate Middleton. Follow in royal footsteps and bed down for the night in one of the Conservancy’s luxe ecotents, before heading out at dawn for a closer look at those zebra and spectacular views of the sun rising over Mount Kenya.

Ruth Styles is an awardwinning travel and lifestyle journalist, who writes for the Daily Mail, the Evening Standard and National Geographic Traveller among others. Based in London, she has also lived in Africa and the Middle East, and spends much of the year roaming the globe. Favourite places: Namibia, Oman, Zanzibar and Copenhagen.