Natural wonders of the wilderness

Looking for the next classic trips before the rest of the world finds them? Let Wilderness Journeys introduce you to five natural wonders of the wilderness. The adventure specialists are experts in putting together trips which epitomise the joys of wanderlust, creating itineraries that venture to beautiful, faraway lands.

The Catatumbo Lightning in Venezuela is a natural wonder that’s just plain awe inspiring. This atmospheric phenomenon causes up to ten silent lightning storms per day, each an hour long with over 200 flashes every minute. Wilderness Journeys enables you to witness the mighty displays during its Catatumbo Lightning trip, which focuses on trekking in the peaceful Venezuelan Andes, a spectacular link in the world’s longest mountain chain. Available for private departures for groups or two or more from April to November, it costs £1,395 pp* including 11 nights’ posada hotel, camping and lodge accommodation, all meals, travel within Venezuela including internal flights, guiding and park fees.

The Serengeti Walking Safari combines a journey into the newly-created wilderness area within the Serengeti National Park with the incredible wildlife of the Ngorongoro Crater. Be among the first people to walk in the national park, exploring the magical region on foot and taking in the annual wildebeest migration. With regular departures year round, this small group trip costs £2,695 pp* including ten nights’ lodge, camp and guesthouse accommodation, all meals, travel within Tanzania, guiding and National Park fees.

Vega Peninsula Sea Kayaking in Norway is particularly special. Unlike the Lofoten Islands, the peninsula is much less visited, giving it a wilder and more pristine feel.  This region is also known as the Gateway to the Arctic and it’s easy to see why: located 300 miles north of Trondheim on the west coast, the landscape consists of a vast archipelago of islands, countless inlets, coves, channels, and fjords all waiting to be explored – a sea kayaker’s dream.  Departing 24 July and 14 August, this small group trip costs £1,395 pp* including six nights’ lodge and camping accommodation, all meals, guiding, and kayak and camp equipment.

Trails in the Himalayan Kingdom is a pioneering journey through the Bhutanese Himalayas by mountain bike, aimed at intermediate to advanced riders. In Bhutan, you will have the opportunity to ride genuinely untouched trails including some of the most thrilling and dramatic single-track the Wilderness Journeys team has seen anywhere, in particular the beautiful Punakha Valley. Departing 28 October, this small group trip costs from £2,895 pp* including 11 nights’ hotel and camping accommodation, all meals, travel within Bhutan and flights between Bhutan and India, guiding and tourist taxes.

Malawi – Lake of Stars – Wilderness Journeys thinks you’ll be blown away by this magical itinerary, offering wilderness experiences in luxurious style. Exploring the finest camps and lodges, including the secluded Mumbo Island and the characteristic Mvuu lodge, you’ll travel through the breathtaking Great Rift Valley to Liwonde National Park, Malawi’s finest safari destination. Having spent a few days marvelling at the wildlife and epic landscapes, fly northwards over the azure blue waters of Lake Malawi to remote Likoma Island – one of the many gorgeous islands in the archipelago known as the Galapagos of Africa. Available year round, private departures for groups of two or more cost from £3,280 pp* including ten nights’ lodge, luxury tent and guesthouse accommodation, all meals, transport within Malawi including private air charter transfers, guiding and National Park fees.

For more information visit Wilderness Journeys at www.wildernessjourneys.com.

*All trips exclude flights from the UK which can be booked through Wilderness Journeys.

For more luxury trips, hotels and travel news, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com.

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FSA to force banks to impose checks but shouldn’t the banks have done this anyway?

It’s a bit hard to believe but today, through a City Watchdog report on mortgages, the FSA found out that banks were not checking borrowers actual income when they were applying for a home loan. In fact, half of all applications granted between 2007 and the beginning of this year had not been thoroughly checked by the lenders.

This does pose the question on why banks are taking such huge risks after the sub prime mortgage crisis effectively caused the global economy to dip. Tougher restrictions were imposed on those wishing to buy properties in order for this kind of fiasco to be averted in the future. Borrowers in the UK could not get 100% mortgages anymore and banks had stopped lending.

So for this report to highlight these figures is actually shocking and it must have given the FSA a huge realisation that the banks will just not listen. The regulator has now proposed that self certification mortgages will be scrapped and they will force the banks to make stringent checks into the income the borrowers actually make rather than claim to make. This, they found, was one of the fundamental flaws of self cert mortgages. This really doesn’t come as much of a surprise as people will do whatever they needed to do to secure their dream property. Even if it left them penniless, which is another aspect that the FSA found to be the case.

Maybe this is a great thing that the FSA have realised what is happening and will hopefully shape up the industry again. Their four month consultation which the lenders will soon commence and it is hoped that those who cannot afford to borrow don’t. It is essential for future economic growth that people only spend what they can afford to spend and the banks need to go some way in assuring this.

For more investment news and insight head over to www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com

Spanish banks begin to emerge from the storm of recession

It has been a torrid twelve months for the Spanish banking and financial system but it is starting to get better, according to leading Spanish equity fund managers.

The Spanish Central Bank last year created the Bank Restructuring Fund for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB). This fund can potentially deploy up to €99 billion, if Spain can raise that money on international markets. This coupled with the ECB announcing stress tests for the regions banks goes some way in deplaying confidence across the region.

Traditionally, a number of commercial banks have shared banking space in Spain with 45 unlisted regional saving banks locally known as cajas. These cajas have evolved into offering financial services while their legal status remained as private enterprises, this has made it difficult for them throughout the financial crisis, putting strain on the larger banks.

In spite of some individual success stories from the cajas, such as leading savings bank La Caixa, for many experts the cajas as a whole have been dragged down by two major handicaps: their lack of presence outside of their respective regions and interference in their businesses by their local regional governments. This is why the situation in spain would appear to get worse before it gets better.

The financial crisis has hit Spain’s economy, as well as the popular real estate sector hard. With some 1.2 million of unsold properties and a youth unemployment rate of 40.5%, the downturn has had an enormous impact on the property, banking and financial system. Ultimately, it has forced many of the cajas into a race against time to save themselves from bankruptcy.

At the same time, the Spanish central bank, Banco de España, and the government are unofficially forcing the weaker cajas to merge. The scale of the challenge is such that the Banco de España last month published a report outlining a plan to ensure the national financial system remains resilient, despite the negative effect of doubtful assets in the residential property sector.

It could be some time before Spain regains ground on the rest of Europe, but at least the banking sector can see light at the end of the tunnel.

If you would like more information about your finances in Spain, or are thinking of moving there, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com for more information.

Pension planning has never been so important

It’s something we all think about doing, but over half of all those of working age never plan properly for their retirement. Most think that their state pension alone will keep them going but this will not provide a comfortable retirement in which you don’t have to worry about affording to keep warm.

It’s now become a bit of cliché, but it’s true, the longer you leave paying into a pension scheme the more you will have to pay into it when you do. Suddenly remembering 10 years before you retire that you have forgotten to save for your retirement puts financial stress on you and your family. After all we all want a comfortable retirement.

It is estimated that if you wish to retire on £50,000 a year throughout your retirement years that you will have to start thinking about it as young as possible to keep up with regular payments. This rings true especially as many final salary schemes in the private sector are closing and the new UK coalition government will start to assess public sector pensions. It is becoming increasingly the case that you will have to fend for yourself.

Example: if a 25 year old and a 35 year old started saving towards their pension at the same time, with the aim to retire at 55, the 25 year old will have to save £300 a month while the 35 year old will need to put aside £805 a month.

This shows just how important it is to keep on top of planning for your retirement

In fact, research from Standard Life shows that those aged between 45-54 are most likely to become disengaged with their pensions and not know the value within them. This is shocking as this age group are the ones heading towards retirement and need to have their plans in order.

It is more important than ever before to plan properly especially as the UK government will be raised the state retirement age to 66 from 2016, France will be raising their retirement age to 62 and Greece to 65. Other countries could follow suit as they each try to work out the best way to cut economic spending.

Don’t get caught out at retirement, plan properly and live comfortably.

For more information on pensions and retirement planning, visit our website at www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com

Luxury Adventure Breaks in Scotland

Scotland has long been one of the UK’s best retreats for those looking for adventure and adrenaline fuelled activities and this year the focus is set to become global.

The 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit is being hosted by Aviemore from the 4^th -7^th October and promises to highlight the beauty and pure ruggedness of Scotland.

To highlight the wide range of activity and adventure holidays within the country, Wilderness Scotland have highlighted some of the best experiences available.

Explore the high summits of the Cairngorms

Looking for a walking experience that packs a punch? Then look no further than the Cairngorms National Park, which is home to four of Scotland’s five highest mountains, the largest arctic mountain landscape in Britain, ancient Caledonian Pine forests and rare wildlife including wildcats, red squirrels and capercaillies. If this sounds like your thing, then you’ll also hike in the awe-inspiring mountains of Wester Ross during this two-centre trip.

Departing 31^st July, 28^th August and 9^th October, seven days cost £825 pp including six nights accommodation, most meals, transport throughout (starting and finishing in Inverness) and guiding.

Top-class kayaking in the Highlands

The Northwest Scottish Highlands are recognised as one of the world’s premier destinations for kayaking as they boast rich marine life, outstanding scenery and waters which are thankfully warmed by the Gulf Stream. On beautiful Loch Torridon you’ll learn and develop basic kayaking skills during this introduction course. Kayaking offers the chance to see the landscape with fresh eyes; a different perspective to climbing a summit, but equally rewarding. While paddling you can even try out a spot of seashore harvesting, such as collecting mussels for dinner.  

Departing 5^th and 19^th September and 3^rd October, five days cost £475 pp including four nights comfortable bunkhouse accommodation (complete with hot showers), most meals, all transport throughout the trip (starting and finishing at Inverness), equipment and guiding.

A mountain biking journey where east meets west

Recently voted one of the ‘Trips of the Year 2010’ by Outside Magazine, Wilderness Scotland’s Coast to Coast mountain biking adventure is an epic journey. Traverse the Scottish Highlands from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, from Aberdeen in the east to Ardnamurchan in the west.  The route covers 400km and over 4,000m of ascent and descent where the trails are as varied as the spectacular scenery; from flowing single-track trails to rocky and challenging mountain passes and forest-fire road. 

Departing 24^th July and 11^th September, eight days cost £895 pp including seven nights guest house and hotel accommodation, most meals, transfers (starting and finishing at Inverness) and guiding.

Experience the mystical archipelago of St Kilda under sail

Situated on the very edge of Europe in the North Atlantic, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St Kilda boasts breathtaking landscapes, wonderful wildlife and a rich tapestry of history and culture that make this place unlike anywhere else in Britain. Until the arrival of the Victorians, the community of St Kilda lived in isolation for more than a thousand years.  A real journey of a lifetime – be prepared for exciting sailing through the Outer Hebrides and on to St Kilda aboard ‘Elinca’, a sleek yacht which cruises at 10 knots, making light work of long passages and heavy seas. 

Departing 12^th and 28^th July and 9^th August, five days cost £550 pp including four nights on-board accommodation, all meals, all transport (starting and finishing at Stornoway), equipment and guiding.

Call of the paddle – descending the River Spey

Paddling through magical pine forests during the day and wild camping under the stars at night makes an open canoe trip in malt whisky country a must for the adventurous. The River Spey descent takes you through sublime scenery and Scotland’s most famous whisky region, with the river itself providing a good mix of gently moving water and challenging rapids, including the ‘Washing Machine’.

Departing 3^rd September, four days cost £425 pp including three nights wild camping, all meals, all transport throughout the trip (starting and finishing Aviemore), canoe and camp equipment and guiding.

For more information on some brilliant Scottish adventures, please visit www.wildernessscotland.com

Culinary adventures in Japan

Each year visitors to Tokyo are treated with some of the best food that Japan has to offer. This should come as no surprise as Tokyo has more Michelin stars than any other city in the world. Japan has some great culinary delights to experience across the country, not just in Tokyo, with some more outrageous than others.

Catch your own fish and get that hunter-gatherer feeling before dinner in order to appreciate your meal more. Tokyo’s Kameido district is home to Zao, a restaurant designed like a boat where if customers stand on the deck or the dining floor you are able to catch your fish of choice to enable the master to create beautifully prepared sushi and sashimi. Enjoy dinner sitting on cushions at low Japanese tables, overlooking the huge tank of water full of gorgeous fish.

Catch your own noodles – Looking for more excitement than a Pot Noodle? Then try catching noodles with your chopsticks as the chef sends them flying down bamboo shoots of running water. Nagashi somen is a popular summertime dish built around somen – thin stretched noodles served cold with dipping sauce. This interesting eating style is part of Japan’s summer traditions and available at restaurants across the country.

Catch the sushi train – While more people are becoming familiar with conveyor belt sushi (kaiten sushi) in the west, it’s a tame version of what’s offered at Kappa Sushi in Kyoto. Sit down and receive your plates of sushi express-delivered to your table by the model Bullet Train running around the restaurant. Truly fast food and it runs on time – just like the actual bullet trains.

Yes master! – Maid Cafés can be found all over Japan, but the phenomenon started in Tokyo’s Akihabara district to serve the otaku – geeky fans of manga, anime and videogames. The young 20-something waitresses serve their customers (master or mistress) dressed in a variety of maid costumes in a sort of blurred anime fantasy-real life world. The Maid Café has spawned its own culture with rules and etiquette and the food is considered secondary to the maids serving it.

Waiter with an attitude? – For shocking service – ninja-style – step into a themed restaurant in the Akasaka district of Tokyo for the ultimate experience in combined dining and entertainment. The restaurant itself is full of hidden nooks and crannies from which ninja waiters jump out at you from every angle. The plucky staff leap out at you as you walk up the dark alley to the restaurant and then make a bridge appear to get you across the water. When your heart has stopped racing, you might be able to enjoy the food there.

These eating experiences are available on all InsideJapan Tours small group tours visiting Tokyo and Kyoto, including the 9-night ‘Tokaido Trail’, a classic trip for first-time visitors to Japan including ultra-modern Tokyo, beautiful Kamakura, the hot springs of Hakone and ancient capital Kyoto. With departures on 27 August, 2 and 13 November, it costs £1,250 pp including nine nights’ hotel and ryokan (traditional inn) accommodation with breakfast, some meals, all transport within Japan, Sumida River boat cruise in Tokyo, a geisha district evening walking tour in Kyoto, the services of a tour leader and Info Pack. Excludes flights which can be booked from £590 pp return with Emirates by InsideJapan Tours.

For more information on visiting Japan, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com

New luxury country house hotel opens in the Cotswolds

Wyck Hill House Hotel & Spa based in the heart of the Cotswolds in Stow-on-the-Wold officially opened last month and is the latest addition to the Bespoke Hotels collection.

This secluded retreat set in over 100 acres of stunning Cotswold countryside and therefore boasts breathtaking views, a fully refurbished luxury hotel with bar, restaurant, spa and 60 bedrooms.  The choice of bedrooms is varied with contemporary Courtyard or Orangery rooms to the more classical Coach House and Manor House Rooms, some of which offer deluxe four posters and private terraces looking directly out on to the woodland. 

A  dedicated outdoor Cigar terrace and custom made Hunters & Frankau humidor in the bar welcomes  cigar afficiados and for those looking for business space, meetings can be accommodated for up to 200 people. Furthermore Wyck Hill House & Spa is a fully licensed wedding venue, with 150 parking spaces for larger events and celebrations.

Wyck is a wonderful base to explore the Cotswolds, close to Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway and Chipping Camden.  Guests can also enjoy the race-course in Cheltenham, the theatre in Oxford, antique-hunting in Burford, and several outstanding golf courses.

Wyck Hill House & Spa offers a choice of bedrooms – from Rates start from £115 for a superior double, £135 for executive doubles and from £300 for a suite.

For more information, please visit www.bespokehotels.com/wyckhillhouse.

Explore four countries in four days abroad the Danube Express

With uncertainty over European airspace this summer including that pesky ash cloud and BA strikes, some could be forgiven for not wanting to risk getting stranded abroad. However, you can have a luxurious holiday without the hassle of getting to the airport and checking in.

The Danube Express passes through four countries in four days, combining culture, comfort and constantly changing scenery. The new Transylvanian Return Journey has all the ingredients for a perfect short break with no airports involved.  Departing Istanbul on 12^th September bound for Budapest, your rail adventure will take in the cities and landscapes of Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.

The journey begins in Istanbul and as your journey begins, the train weaves its way through Turkey overnight and guests awake the following day to the ever-changing rural landscapes of Bulgaria.  You will visit Kazanlak, centre of the Valley of Roses and, after lunch, the ancient capital city of Veliko Turnovo, nestled in a picturesque mountain setting.

Over the next few days you will awake in the Carpathian Mountains as streams, waterfalls and dense forests glide past ahead of arrival in Transylvania, land of Dracula.  Spend the morning in Braşov with a visit to Bran Castle before journeying on to medieval Sighişoara, rumoured birthplace of Dracula.  The final leg of the journey brings guests across the Great Hungarian Plain for a morning arrival in Budapest.

The 4-day Transylvanian Return Journey costs £2,490 per person based on two sharing a Deluxe twin en suite compartment and includes three nights’ full board with wine, beer and soft drinks on the Danube Express and all scheduled sightseeing.

This trip is also available as a 9-day Fully Escorted holiday from £3,390 per person.

For more information on luxury boutique holidays, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com

Summer 2010 events in Aruba

If you’re lucky enough to be on the Caribbean island of Aruba this summer either catching some rays on your yacht, or exploring, then there are events going on to suit everybody’s taste.

For all music lovers, the Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival (26-31 May) is celebrating its tenth anniversary this May with multi-Grammy winning Mary J. Blige and Toni Braxton heading the star-studded event. High-octane R&B artist Joe Thomas (usually credited simply as Joe) and P. Diddy’s protégé Mark Curry are also confirmed to perform. www.soulbeach.net

If wine is more your thing, the three-day Aruba Wine, Food & Art Festival 2010 (3-5 June) will include elegant dishes offered by renowned chefs, more than 60 varieties of wine available to sample, local and international liquor purveyors, live entertainment and art exhibitions. On the last day the Capturing the Champagne Sparkle gala’s five-course menu will be paired with Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon champagnes, followed by an art and wine auction. www.westinaruba.com

In addition, the Aruba Wine Extravaganza (2-4 September) will bring together about 50 different South American wineries. The event, held at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino and Spa, will include a series of wine tastings under the stars, special lunches and a sparkling wine reception in the ball room foyer, followed by a gala dinner and award presentation. www.arubawineextravaganza.com

Skydiving is now available for the first time on the island. The dive will have you soaring from 11,000 feet with jumps that are made from a Cessna plane by trained professionals, allowing you to take in all the beauty of the southern Caribbean. Skydive Aruba is located just north of Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, off L.G. Smith Boulevard, right across from the kite surfing shacks. www.skydivearuba.com

Aruba has been celebrating St. John’s Day on 24^th June for more than two centuries – and is probably the only country in the world that celebrates this day with song and dance. Featuring traditional songs and dances, the harvest festival has now become a cultural celebration, with the symbol of the rooster and bright yellow and red costumes central to events held at various locations around the island. www.aruba.com

If that isn’t enough to keep you entertained throughout your stay in Aruba, the there are lots more events going on throughout summer 2010, for more information visit the official website www.aruba.com.

For more information on luxury boutique holidays or second homes, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com

What next for the UK as election result is a ‘hung parliament’?

The UK general election has officially ended in a hung parliament, the first since 1974 as voters remained undecided on which political party should lead the country from today.

Some political analysts believe that David Cameron’s Conservatives would gain a small majority, but early exit polls strongly indicated a hung parliament, with the Conservatives gaining the most amount of seats. It was disappointing for the Liberal Democrats as it indicated that they actually lost seats.

With a few constituencies still to record their results, the election will officially end in a hung parliament with no party gaining the overall majority of 326 seats. The Conservatives have recorded their biggest swing in gaining the most amount of seats in nearly 70 years, while Labour have lost the most amount of seats for the first time since the 1930’s. The Lib Dem’s have also performed worse than expected, despite a rise of 1% in votes for the party on 2005.

Gordon Brown will remain prime minister for the time being unless he immediately resigns from his position. It is now his duty to make a decision on whether he wishes to form a coalition party, probably with the Liberal Democrats, to command support in a new parliament. This is what happened in the last hung parliament in 1974 when then prime minister Edward Heath attempted to form a coalition with the Liberals. This lasted four days until Harold Wilson was bought in to govern on a Conservative minority which turned into a majority at the next election.

However, the Conservatives will also be trying to forge a coalition, possibly with the Lib Dems, putting the leader Nick Clegg in an advantageous position in terms of negotiations.

Although there is no set date for a government to be formed, it is likely that this will be by the time the Queen gives her speech on 25^th May, although commentators believe that we could see a possible outcome in the next few days.

If no majority support can be formed, then there will be a second election.

Nick Clegg has said that he will speak to the Tories first to see if they come to some sort of aggrement. Gordon Brown has reached out to Nick Clegg saying that he would be open to electoral reform in exchange for a coalition. In addition, the SNP and Green Party have ruled out teaming up with a Conservative government.

For more information on how this result will affect your money and investments, please visit www.wealthandlivingmagazine.com.