Venere Travel Blog» Paul Crompton

Top five must-see places in the Netherlands

Paul Crompton — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:00:55 +0000

Think Netherlands, and vivid images come to one’s mind – of water, wind, boats, cheese, windmills, tulips, bicycles – the Netherlands is all of this and much, much more. Who has not heard of its famous cities – of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Delft and Den Haag? If the Netherlands is your stop for a holiday this year, consider the following list that I’ve thrown together.

How to get to central London from Gatwick Airport

Paul Crompton — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:49 +0000

Getting from the airport terminals of Gatwick Airport to central London may seem like a daunting task, especially for first-time travelers. But it is a lot easier than you think. There are a few different options for transportation – Gatwick Express (the quickest way), private hire transfer, easyBus, First Capital Connect trains, National Express Coach, Southern trains, or taxi.

How to spend 1 Day in Riga, Latvia

Paul Crompton — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:00:36 +0000

For the less informed, Riga is the capital of Lativa, the Baltic state sandwiched in between Lithuania and Estonia. Because of its stunning architecture, it’s becoming increasingly popular with tourists all over Europe. But before we start, it’s time for a word on climate. Latvia feels colder than the moon in the winter months, and I speak from unpleasant personal experience of not having brought enough insulating clothing. Unfortunately, to combat this, many of the establishments you may visit have the heating cranked up to excess, which means you spend half your time taking clothes on and off like some sort of high-energy circus act. Because of this, it’s more advisable to visit in the months of June, July, and August where temperatures average around 17°C, not exactly toasty, but manageable.

Museums in Dubai

Paul Crompton — Wed, 26 May 2010 16:42:12 +0000

Dubai’s Best Shopping Malls

Paul Crompton — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:19:38 +0000

Malls are something more than a cultural phenomenon in Dubai - it could be said that the lifeblood of the city flows through them.

They’re more than places to just visit

Top 5 Innovative Travel Objects

Paul Crompton — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:10:47 +0000

5. Swiss Army Maverick II Dual Time Watch Got family or friends to stay in contact with but also got to keep time in your current location on holiday?

This watch includes a small second watch on the face for the second time zone

5 more desperate ways to save money on holiday

Paul Crompton — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:35:19 +0000

Are you in need of a break from your daily routine but don't find a holiday that suits the pocket?

Don't worry, you can surely find your ideal destination and save some money! Here goes a series of tips!

5 Things to Do on a Day Trip to Salzburg, Austria

Paul Crompton — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:00:58 +0000

There’s something rather strange in the air when you first get to Salzburg. The peaceful, glowing Austrian City heftily endowed with old-world charm that we all found so charming in The Sound of Music – Salzburg is literally swarming with tourists – sadly you weren’t the first one to think that coming here would be [...]

A Guide to Abu Dhabi

Paul Crompton — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:00:41 +0000

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the UAE, and the sister city of Dubai, the more famous economic capital. While more often seen as a serious city for business, it is not so often considered a serious tourist destination. However, the governing authorities have a plan to change all that and turn the city into [...]

5 tips for the thrifty holiday-maker

Paul Crompton — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:00:46 +0000

1. List of who to buy trinkets for Essential if you’re being carried away by the manipulative trader who’s extremely friendly and makes you feel guilty that he’s laid out all his wares for you and if you don’t buy one he’ll get all upset – it works every time, but it’s a common ploy [...]

6 mistakes not to make on holiday

Paul Crompton — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 18:00:04 +0000

Has it ever crossed a typical traveller’s mind how many terrible decisions it is possible to make while on a simple break? Learning some time-honoured advice from yours truly will prevent you from stumbling into any of these proverbial pratfalls that could get you into massive trouble which could lead to either bankruptcy, imprisonment, or [...]

Top 5 New Year’s Celebration Parties in Europe

Paul Crompton — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:16 +0000

The New Year is coming up so fast you’ll not even have time to practice gurgling out the chorus of Auld Lang Syne before the clock strikes 12. Many people affected by the economic crisis will be willing to bid what will probably in a few decades become known as the year of the recession [...]

How to Celebrate Halloween in Dublin, Ireland

Paul Crompton — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:00:20 +0000

Dublin is no stranger to Halloween. Bram Stoker who wrote Dracula hailed from here and the Irish people have been celebrating All Hallows’ Eve in various forms since the days of the Celts and it is thought that the Jack o’ Lantern originates from Ireland. Enough about the history! –you might be saying. What can [...]

Top 5 Things to Do on Halloween in London

Paul Crompton — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:09 +0000

London. Victorian London. Jack the Ripper. Sweeney Todd. See where we’re going? London shortly before the turn of the 20th Century must have been a frightening place to be, and even to this day there are some fairly eerie attractions for people who take delight in horrific thrills. Here are some of the best: 1. [...]

Top 3 Environmentally-Friendly Countries to Visit

Paul Crompton — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:33 +0000

So what exactly do I mean by Environmentally-Friendly? Well, this list relates to nations that take the problem of a warming planet very seriously, rather than just their Politicians moaning about it at Global Summits and never taking any practical action. For “Greenies” out there who really do want to save the planet and yet [...]

4 Places to Visit Before They’re Affected by Climate Change

Paul Crompton — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:00:11 +0000

1. Spain Spain, with its culture, beaches and favourable climate has been for years an almost ubiquitous tourist trap. But all is not rosy in the land of España. Much of the southern parts of the country are at considerable risk of desertification, from Almeria all the way to Tarragona. Excessive irrigation, inadequate rainfall, and [...]

How to Stalk Celebrities in Europe

Paul Crompton — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:55 +0000

If you’re one of those types who goes to the expense of buying a ticket, and booking a hotel, just so you can see your idol who’s now probably ageing faster than light and languishing in a small villa by a lake, waiting to die, then this guide might be for you. Celebrity stalking, and [...]

The Iconic English Phone Box

Paul Crompton — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:00:15 +0000

As boring as it sounds, the English Phone Box has become internationally recognised as one of the symbols of Britain, almost as synonymous with London (in Hollywood) as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Yet as the years go by, more and more of the icons are taken off the streets, mostly because of [...]

How to save money on your Vancouver Vacation

Paul Crompton — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:00:14 +0000

Interested in visiting Vancouver? Great! Think it’s too expensive? Fear not! In this guide, we will go through the options for those on a limited budget and prove that it’s not as expensive as you might think. Flights to Vancouver So to start off, how can you get there cheaply? Economy Class goes without saying [...]

How to get ready for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver

Paul Crompton — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:30 +0000

This world famous event is being held this year in Vancouver, Canada, from February 12th to the 28th, 2010, leaving you plenty of time to plan and budget in advance. Sort out your visa Probably the first thing you’ll want to look at getting done is to sort out your visa. For people with Western [...]