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Finland's Summer Wilderness Ruka-Kuusamo - Tips For Travellers Podcast #243

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

Release Date: 09/26/2016

Too Many Cruisers Fall For These Cruise Drink Package Traps (Podcast #513) show art Too Many Cruisers Fall For These Cruise Drink Package Traps (Podcast #513)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

A drinks package can easily add $1,000 or more to the cost of your seven-night cruise. They've become popular and cruise lines push cruisers hard to buy them, arguing they’re great value, but are they really? And who exactly should, and should not, be buying them and why? I highlight how to avoid falling into traps that so many cruisers do with drinks packages. Links mentioned in the video: * Drinks Package calculators: https://www.cruzely.com/cruise-line-drink-package-calculator/ and https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/cruise-drinks-package-calculator/ Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and...

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Avoid Doing These 6 Things Or Risk Driving Cruise Crew Crazy (Podcast #512) show art Avoid Doing These 6 Things Or Risk Driving Cruise Crew Crazy (Podcast #512)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

Until recently I used to think of myself as a self-aware and understanding cruise passenger, but that changed after I caught up with some crew members I know over dinner on a recent cruise. They told me there are 6 things blissfully unaware passengers keep doing that really wind the crew up, but most passengers don’t realise they are doing it as crew members have to hide their frustration when they do these. I want to reveal these so you can avoid doing these from here on. GET 10% OFF YOUR "THE CRUISE MAPS" AT   Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only...

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Smart Cruisers Stay On Board On Port Days More Than Ever. Here’s Why (Podcast #511) show art Smart Cruisers Stay On Board On Port Days More Than Ever. Here’s Why (Podcast #511)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

I noticed that more cruisers than ever are staying on board their cruise ship rather than getting off in ports to self-explore or go on excursions. With many changes in ports and on ships in recent years, I too have started remaining on board in more ports too. There were even two cruises in the last year where I did not get off the ship in any port at all! What is going on? And why and when should you also make the smart choice to stay on board in port? Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers...

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Cruisers Pick Their Best & Worst Lines RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #510) show art Cruisers Pick Their Best & Worst Lines RIGHT NOW! (Podcast #510)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

I'm constantly asked if I think that cruise lines are worse now than they used to be. After analysing how cruisers are rating them right now, the answer seems to be mostly yes. I've poured over the online reviews and ratings of 25 of the biggest cruise lines aimed at English-speaking cruisers over the last nine months. A staggering 20 of them are being rated lower than ever before, with just two being rated higher. Welcome aboard, I am Gary Bembridge and to make my findings as helpful as possible for you, I'm going reveal the current best and worst rated lines right now in each of the 5...

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River Cruise Lines To Steer Clear Of These Days. And Why! (Podcast #507) show art River Cruise Lines To Steer Clear Of These Days. And Why! (Podcast #507)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

As I don’t want to waste my precious time and money on a European river cruise line that isn’t on top of their game, I've been diving into the latest cruise reviews and ratings, to see what lines are doing well and, maybe more importantly, what lines we might need to approach with more caution. There are 5 lines you should be wary of and they include some of the best-known names on the rivers of Europe. I was surprised about the first of the lines on the lower-scoring list as I had expected them to be rated better. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only...

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Too Few Cruisers Know About These 9 FREE Afternoon Teas At Sea (Podcast #509) show art Too Few Cruisers Know About These 9 FREE Afternoon Teas At Sea (Podcast #509)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

As a HUGE fan of them, and because I see only a small percentage of passengers going to many of them, and as I think too many are missing out on one of the best culinary experiences on a cruise, I’m going to let you in on my list of the best included afternoon teas at sea, so you too know where you can indulge in this fantastic experience. “Cruise Calories Don’t Count” T-shirt you can buy it from my merchandise store in a range of colours: Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: ...

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I Test Seabourn Expedition Cruising To See Why Cruisers Are So Unhappy (Podcast #508) show art I Test Seabourn Expedition Cruising To See Why Cruisers Are So Unhappy (Podcast #508)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

Looking at reviews before heading off on Seabourn Venture, one of the new expedition ships from the ultra-luxury Seabourn line, I was concerned when I saw recent reviews calling it disappointing, saying it had unappealing food, the entertainment was abysmal, and the decor felt downscale versus other Seabourn ships. This is what I discovered when I went. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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The Truth About Cruise Cabins: What Every Cruiser Should Know (Podcast #506) show art The Truth About Cruise Cabins: What Every Cruiser Should Know (Podcast #506)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

I look at 5 things that no-one, including cruise lines don't like to talk about, when it comes to cruise ship cabins - and why and how it is affecting the way passengers like you cruise and ingenious ways that the choices cruise lines are making on cabins means people are paying more to go cruising. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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What Smart Cruisers Do To Guarantee Adult-Only Cruising (Podcast #505) show art What Smart Cruisers Do To Guarantee Adult-Only Cruising (Podcast #505)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

It is a great time to be cruising if you are a family with kids. But if you’re looking for kid-free cruising it is getting harder than I have ever known it to be. In this video I talk about guaranteed adult-only cruise lines and ships, how to minimise your chance of having kids on a cruise on non-adult only lines, and if you're on a cruise line with lots of kids, what can you do if you want a more adult-only experience. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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River Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why) (Podcast 504) show art River Cruise Lines Everyone Is Raving About RIGHT NOW (And Why) (Podcast 504)

Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers

I decided to see how today’s travellers spending their own hard-earned money river cruising in Europe are rating the lines on review sites. I quickly discovered the rankings were not as I expected them to be and were different to those of the magazines and sites. So, I let you in on the top 8 traveller best rated river cruise lines right now, and why. Become a Tips For Travellers Patron: and get exclusive Patron-only content, downloads and livestreams Visit my Tips For Travellers YouTube: 

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More Episodes

Join me, Gary Bembridge from TipsForTravellers.com, as I take you to "Europe's Last Great Wilderness" which is the Ruka-Kuusamo region in the northern part of Finland close to the Russia border. In the show I talk about 10 surprising things I learnt and share my nine top Tips For Travellers for visitors going there in summer - which is the quiet season (winter being the peak time).

In the show I cover the following 10 surprising things I learnt:

  1. Russian border.
  2. Snow season.
  3. Midnight sun.
  4. One million visitors and 40,000 beds.
  5. Northern Lights.
  6. Bears.
  7. Reindeers.
  8. Huskies.
  9. Saunas.
  10. Wild Food Movement.

In the show I cover the following ten must-see sights and attractions:

  1. Bear Watching with Karhu-Kuusamo.
  2. Husky hiking in Oulanka National Park.
  3. Canoeing on River Oulankajoki.
  4. White Water Rafting on River Kitkajoki.
  5. Horse riding at Nurminiemi Stables.
  6. Sauna Tour.
  7. Mountain Bike Safari.
  8. Wild Food Movement Restaurants.
  9. Family-owned places to stay.

Resources:

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