Blog - The Great Escape Travel Blog

Visiting Ria de Muros, Spain – Is it worth the trip?

19 March 202314 August 2022

If you’re looking for an interesting and off-the-beaten-path destination in Spain, visiting Ria de Muros will be the best decision. This small town is located on the Galician coast, and it’s well worth a visit if you’re interested in history, culture, and stunning coastal scenery. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what Ria de Muros offers visitors.

Muros is an historic town with small narrow streets to explore. In the heart of the town is the Plaza de la Constitución, a beautiful square flanked by arcades and a large church. The town is a popular destination for tourists who come to enjoy its medieval charm. You can spend a couple of hours wandering around these small streets with local bars and restaurants nestled in between.

We arrived to Muros by sail boat and settled in to the main anchorage outside the marina. A point to note, contrary to the Reeds Almanac (2022) and Pilot Book (2019), is that there is NO fuel berth for pleasure boats – only fishing boats. If you are looking Muros to be a fuel stop, you will be required to take your portable fuel tanks to the local car filling station 10 – 15 minutes walk across town (as directed by the marina staff).

We arrived on a bank holiday weekend and although it did not both us too much, there was a rather loud party/disco/rave(??) event taking place in town (close to the water’s edge) which we could hear in the background until around 0530hrs. A large number of motorbikes (around 200) passed through the town along the coast road at around lunch time on the Sunday. On Sunday and the following day (Monday 15 August 2022), most shops were closed for the Fiesta.

The only place to land your dinghy (if using the anchorage) is the main public slip way. The marina do not permit use of their facilities. There are secure attachment points to padlock and secure your outboard and dinghy on the slip way if required.

The local area is very picturesque with a number of small coves and beaches to explore by dinghy. We spent a couple of days exploring the coastline, which is dotted with small fishing villages. The scenery is simply stunning and well worth the effort to get there.

So, if you’re looking for an interesting place to visit in Spain, we highly recommend Muros. It’s a charming town with plenty to see and do, and the surrounding area is absolutely beautiful. We think it’s well worth the trip.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post about Muros, Spain. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to ask. For discounted accommodation up to 80% off retail rates, visit http://www.thetravelclub.info

Is A Coruña, Spain worth a visit?

19 March 202314 August 2022

If you’re looking for a new travel destination, A Coruña, in Spain worth a visit. This city is located in the northwest corner of the country, and it has a lot to offer visitors. From its stunning architecture to its delicious food, A Coruña is definitely worth exploring! So, if you’re looking for a new place to travel to, be sure to add A Coruña, Spain to your list!

Have you ever been to A Coruña, Spain? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.

Is A Coruña, Spain worth a visit?

We arrived in A Coruña on 1 August 2022 after a 3 day sail from Salcombe, UK across the Bay of Biscay. We had some options for the first stop, one of which was Viveiro. After a few issues causing us to need some remedial work to our engine, we continued on to A Coruña to Marina Coruña, run by Chuny (Roberto Bermúdez de Castro Muñoz) the MD of the Coruna and Viveiro group of marinas. We cannot recommend these guys enough. Chuny and his team were ready, able and willing to assist us with our repair requirements and all other questions and queries we might have, including how best to avoid the Orcas currently residing in the Galacian waters and causing damage to yachts. The friendliness and welcoming approach of the staff at Marina Coruña was second to none!

We stayed 10 days in A Coruña and spent most evenings venturing in to the old town for dinner. There is a varied selection of restaurants (mainly seafood) in the small quaint streets. You really are spoiled for choice. Some meals with a couple of beers each (for 2) cost around 50-60 Euros, with others as low as 16-20 Euros – so take your pick, and don’t forget the ice cream shops afterwards. The are plenty of pharmacies, nicknack shops, tabacs and clothing stores. There is one main Gadis supermarket in the old town (0900-2130hrs Monday to Saturday) with a couple more further on the outskirts on the town. 10 minute taxi rides cost between 6 – 8 Euros.

Most restaurants open for food at around 1230hrs for lunch, and in the evening from 1930hrs with a siesta closure in the afternoon between 1430h/1500hrs. Our favourite was Casa del Vella – easily located – lovely staff and consistently lovely food (Address: Rúa Galera, 15, 15003 A Coruña – Phone: 881 89 53 26)

In some restaurants, we did find receiving what we had ordered a little hit and miss. You might order 2 of something as a main each, but receive just one or a flat refusal from your server to bring two on the basis that one is enough for two persons. Often when it turned up, it was a small tapas dish and clearly not sufficient for one person so you would need to order something more. That aside, almost everything we ordered was superb food with good service to match. Octopus is a local speciality – so be prepared to see this on menus prepared in various ways.

A Coruña has a relaxed, friendly vibe and warm, comfortable climate. There’s always something happening with events planned in the Maria Pitas square or the castle over-looking the harbour. While we were there we saw Texas play live for 1 hour 30 mins for free in the square. Earlier in the week various other artists including James Blunt performed.

All in all, A Coruña is, in our view, a great place to visit for a week or so. There’s plenty to do an see and if you come in the summer, the weather will undoubtedly be as warm or warmer than the UK (however, we did visit during the UK heatwave so London was 10 degrees hotter!)

For discounted accommodation, Travel Club members can receive up to 80% discount on retail accommodation rates around the world – visit http://www.thetravelclub.info

The Amazing Hamble Adventure Begins. Let’s Go!

19 March 20236 August 2022

We’re a bit late, I know. We were due to set off on our ‘big adventure’ for hamble in May 2021, but with Lockdown and various other things which sprung a surprise, here we are a year late but underway.

The extra time has given up the opportunity to carry out quite a few upgrades to the boat (a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 52.2 sailing yacht- 1999 Bruce Farr design), vinyl wrapping the whole interior in a much lighter, brighter colour wood finish, complete re-wiring, install a new radar, various major electrical system upgrades, a new oven, new fridges, new spray-hood, upgraded chart-plotter, a new anchor and chain, mounting a smart-monitor on the bulk head, complete a generator overhaul – and so the list goes on. All in all, it has been time well spent.

The story would not be complete without letting you know that we did go through a period earlier this year (April 2022) of wanting to sell the boat. This was pre-many of these upgrades and with a view to swapping out the boat for a motorhome.

We fell in love with the Hymer 890 – a brand new, very well kitted-out long-distance motorhome. With the artic pack and all available system upgrades we planned to drive our way around Europe – chasing the sun for the summer and spending the winter months up a mountain somewhere, skiing. Alas, that was not to be. We were given (what I now know to be) well intended but false hope of selling our boat “very quickly” and “at the full asking price”.

The market for used both boats and motorhomes was extremely buoyant during the end of 2021 and early 2022 following lockdown and the era of the staycation. However, when it came to selling ours (after we had virtually ordered the new Hymer), we came to learn, as did others we spoke to, that the market has flattened off with the return of new boats to the market brought back too much choice. What was a sellers market turned in to a series of ups-and-downs and disappointment for us.

That said, during the last potential purchaser viewing of our boat, we both found ourselves feeling rather down about the likelihood of an offer being made and the ultimate decision to sell our boat, ‘Great Escape’. We felt, although the benefits of a motorhome were many (and we may revisit this option again in the future), we would find ourselves parked up in a motorhome along a sunny European coastline staring at the boats and wishing we were on one of them. Suffice to say, Great Escape did not sell – so we happily decided that the ‘right thing’ for us had shown itself. We were keeping her – and we started to make final plans do what we had intended in the first place.

First stop – Salcombe.

It’s fair to say, we wouldn’t be quite were we are without someone very special to both of us. During the first lockdown we go to know a man working at the marina for one of the resident charter companies – Andy. Andy became a very good friend and will always remain so. He sailed Great Escape with us from Hamble to Chatham in 2020. After just over a year in Chatham, we moved her back to Hamble for her annual lift-out and the above upgrades. It’s been so good to have Andy’s company again for a further 9 months. Had we not gone through the process of attempting to sell Great Escape (delaying our departure from May 2022 to July 2022), Andy would be with us for the first part of our journey – Hamble – Falmouth – A’Coruna (if not more).

We left Hamble at around 1145hrs, Wednesday 28 July 2022. Our send off was Andy speeding out to us as we entered the main Solent channel out of the Hamble River accompanied by Lee, Steph, Brad and fog-horn! It was sad to see him go back as we ploughed on through the waves – but he is most likely to the first to come join us for another adventure on Great Escape down in the Med.

There’s not much to tell you about long passages sailing. There are various types and sizes of waves, variable states of tide and wind, and often a requirement to motor instead of just sail as a result. The darkness during the overnight sectors can be strange and a little daunting until day-break. We laid cushions on the cockpit floor and took turns getting some rest, but we found, in the end, when the sea state isn’t relatively calm, it can be very difficult to get comfortable without sliding across the floor. Neither of us got much sleep during the first 14 hours – more like a doze here and there. Suffice to say, when we arrived in Salcombe, we both needed a good sleep.

We arrived in Salcombe at around 0900hrs, Thursday 29 July 2022. We found a peaceful and calm anchorage, dropped the hook and set about taking a shower, making breakfast and getting ready for a sleep. We were adjacent to a quiet beach at Sunny Cove with only 2 other yachts anchored. Of course, being the summer in the UK, it wasn’t long before the ribs started arriving, the beach filled up and other boats attempting to anchor (some being asked to move on as too close to others). Although it was busy by midday, it was still quite quiet so we had a lovely afternoon just relaxing and doing little else. We were in bed by 1900hrs for a good sleep ahead of our departure for A’Coruna, crossing the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

Significant Delays for UK Passport renewals (exceeding 10 weeks) – and how to get yours faster!

19 March 202312 July 2022

The UK passport renewals processing time is currently at its worst, with the average wait time now exceeding 10 weeks. This is due to a high demand for passports and a lack of staff to handle the applications. If you are planning on renewing your passport in the near future, be sure to do so as soon as possible to avoid having to wait months for your application to be processed!

All that you need to know about UK passport renewals

The UK passport office has recently come under fire for the increasing amount of time it is taking to process passport applications with delays in excess of 10 weeks. In some cases, applicants wait

over three months to receive their passports back from the HM Passport Office. This is a significant increase from the average processing time of six weeks. This has caused an incredible amount of stress and frustration for intended holiday-makers,

with some taking the matter into their own hands.

The passport office attributes the delays to a higher-than-usual

demand for passports and a lack of staff to handle the applications. They are urging people who are planning on renewing their passports

to do so as soon as possible in order to avoid any potential delays. The worst delays appear to be with those applications sent to Peterborough and Durham HMPO offices, with most of other offices returning passports as quickly as 7 to 14 days after application.

If you are one of the many people affected by these passport processing delays, be sure to stay patient and allow yourself enough time to receive your passport back from the government. If your travel plans are being threatened by this continuing delays and lack of response from HMPO, there are a couple of resources we found useful over the last month –

Facebook Group: Passport Chaos 2022

Facebook Group: Passport Appointment Help

Reports have been received that those who have waited over 10 weeks for their passport and have proof of flights within 48 hours have been able to obtain their passport from their local passport office, attending without an appointment. We can verify these reports as we had to test the process ourselves. There are also plenty of videos appearing on social media showing individuals attending and receiving their passports without an appointment on the same day: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/turning-up-to-passport-office-uk

You WILL be required to send (email) proof of departure to your office of application, or take copies of flight itineraries with you when you visit. Arrive early – be prepared to wait. Queues are sorted in to lanes of those departing within 24 hours and those departing within 48 hours. Don’t expect to be seen if you cannot prove these timescales. The above Facebook Groups will give you details of email addresses to use and any additional numbers you can call. NB: Phone calls alone do not get results!

We found that following the Passport Office recommendation of seeking ‘upgrade’ (said to be available after 6 weeks, but infact rarely permitted before 10 weeks) resulted in a cost of £144 and another long wait for an appointment (2-3 weeks in most cases), with no gurarantee of your passport with 7-8 days thereafter.

In short – best results have been found by attending your local passport office (need not be the office of application) within 48 hours of your departure (as soon as they open), taking proof with you. Be prepared to queue, but most people are leaving the same day with their passport.

For those with a valid passport and those who obtain their passport – the Travel Club can help you find great deals on travel for up to 80% off of retail rates and many other service providers, tickets, and lifestyle products. Visit http://www.thetravelclub.info for more information.

Greek Hotels – Your home in the Med

20 March 20233 June 2022

Greece is full of wonderful hotels – family size and equipped, plus boutique, quiet luxury size gems. Its Mediterranean location is an ideal holiday spot, and it is still seeing tourism increase steadily increasing by 10% a year for decades. The Olympics in 2004 boosted its popularity in the early 2000s, as did the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest. Since then, Greece has been host to many international event which only service to raise its position in the holiday landscape, with no sign of a decline any time soon.

As tourism is such an important industry in Greece, hotels are everywhere: they just can’t build them fast enough to meet all the demand. As a result, the quality of hotels in the country varies widely. Rather than being ranked with stars, hotels in Greece have been put into categories, with category A ranking the best. However, as the category system is based on a number of factors, like the sizes of rooms, it can often be deceptive with many category B or C hotels actually better in reality than some category A, or at least most people would consider them superior.

There are lots of things you should look for when choosing a hotel. What are the facilities like? Is there any building work going on? Can you bring children? What kind of rooms are there? Is it close to what you’ve come to see? The best way to get all these questions answered is to use a site that reviews or compares hotels, so that you can see all the features of each hotel laid out in front of you.

As an English speaker, you may find you are only able to book at quite big hotels. Smaller hotels will often rely on agencies to act as a go-between and translate into Greek for them which can push up the cost of staying there. The travel club we found is able to secure lots of rooms at lovely, quaint, off-the-beaten-track Greek hotels without any fuss or difficulty.

One last thing to note is that it is essential to book before you go to Greece rather than trying to find a hotel once you’re there. The exceptionally high demand means that in peak season all the decently-located hotels can easily end up full, leaving you to wander around aimlessly for hours trying to find something.

The travel club is able to source and unique, boutique, family friendly and ideally located hotels across Greece and the Greek Islands. Check out membership here: http://www.thetravelclub.info

Naxos: A true gem of the Cyclades, the Greek Islands

20 March 202330 May 2022

Thanks to a 2014 New York Times article declaring Naxos, Greece not to be missed, travel heavyweights have been including it year after year on their roundups of must-see destinations within the Cyclades – Naxos: a true gem of the Cyclades, the Greek Islands.

Unlike its neighbours Santorini and Mykonos, Naxos remains relatively unfazed by the hype – despite the fact that the picturesque island continues to surface on Greek island round-ups. Its low-key ambiance and quiet pace provide visitors with an authentic Greek island experience, only three and a half hours from bustling Athens.

When to Go

The weather in Greece is warm from March and April onwards, with peak crowds in July and August. Early September is an ideal time to experience the island. By September fewer tourists are packing the ferries and beaches, as children across Europe are back in school.

Getting There

The easiest way to arrive to Naxos is by ferry from Athens. From the port of Piraeus (just outside of Athens) a highspeed ferry will deliver you to Naxos in roughly 3.5 hours, while other ferries offer a more scenic 5.5-hour journey. Purchase your tickets in advance to alleviate any headaches at the port and guarantee your arrival time. See here for more info: https://www.greekferries.gr/

What to Do

Eat. Simply arrive hungry, and don’t leave until you’ve eaten just about everything. Local Naxian cheese and olive oil are not to be missed, as is imbibing on a glass of island-made Kitron (a spirit made from citron trees, a relative of the lemon). There are plenty of restaurants directly across the street from the port, however going inland (even if it’s a block or two) will often reveal restaurants aimed at locals instead of tourists, complete with more reasonable prices and authentic cuisine.

While it’s a drive nearly 45 minutes inland, a visit to Rotonda (located in the Apeiranthos region of Naxos) will deliver gourmet food with jaw-dropping views of the island and sea. Tip: Reserve a table for sunset, the views are some of the best on the island.

Naxos has no shortage of stunning beaches and beach bars. From the Chora (town center) the first beach is Agios Georgios, an easy 15-minute walk from the center of town. While there are ample oceanfront restaurants and beach bars, Agios Georgios is often the most crowded due to its proximity to the town center.

Outside of the town center, three well-known beaches dot the coast – Agios Prokopios, Agia Anna, and Plaka. Each boasts crystal clear turquoise water, not unlike the Caribbean, and Agios Prokopios and Agia Anna are within walking distance of each other. All three beaches are easily accessible by public transit that runs every half hour from the town center. If you want to rent a sunbed for the day (highly recommended to find reprieve from the scorching Mediterranean sun) visit any number of the beach bars along the beach. Some will rent two beds and an umbrella for a flat fee, others will include them for ‘free’ with the purchase of food or drinks.

Unique to Naxos is the Eggares Olive Press Museum, one of Naxos’s oldest remaining olive mills. A brief complimentary tour showcases the history of the mill, including original production materials once used at the site. Don’t miss a tasting, I dare you to leave without buying some of their oil. You’ll be hooked and we’d love to help you get there!

Where to Stay

There’s no shortage of accommodation options on Naxos, ranging from luxurious private villas to basic room rentals.

Iliada Villas are located a ten-minute walk from Paralia Agios Prokopios beach and offers guests their choice of villas, rooms, or suites with breakfast included. With an outdoor pool, restaurant, and pool bar, guests will want for nothing. Travel club members can save over £1000 GBP for a week in the Summer here.

Pyrgaki Hotel has great reviews for good reason. The Greek hospitality is evident from the moment you arrive. Save over £125 for a week here with the travel club

Interested in visiting Greece, or maybe island hopping for your next trip away?

Contact me here, I’d love to help you with big savings on your next Mediterranean escape! Or visit our travel club information page: http://www.thetravelclub.info