We've all had those moments when traveling:
- Hunger pangs along the way with nothing in sight but hamburger chains and fried chicken joints - or worse, nothing in sight from the main road at all.
- Stuck between trains, planes or buses with time to kill in a strange place and no idea what, if anything, is worth seeing.
- Ready for a touring break but unsure whether there is anything worth stopping for nearby.
On the Road Reviews, launched today, is a new feature highlighting local restaurants, shops and attractions that are worth knowing about if you are touring in the UK. These are not destinations worth a special detour, but simply handy local knowledge in a pinch.
The list is still pretty short but you can make it grow. Have you:
- eaten at a pub, bistro, tea shop or restaurant, near a main touring road, that you think is worth recommending?
- found a family attraction that the kids really loved where you least expected it?
- discovered a shop full of desireable clothing, pottery, crafts, artwork, that is really off - but not that far from - the beaten path?
If you have, let us know by:
- adding your comment below
- emailing me at gouk.guide@about.com
- or writing about it in the UK Travel Forum
Make sure to include your email so I can get in touch and tell you how to submit your own On the Road Review. Meanwhile,
check out today's On the Road Review
I know I go on a lot about how a vacation home rental - aka self-catering in the UK and Europe - is a great way to save money, live like a local and have total freedom on a visit to the UK. If you are coming with a few friends or a big family, you just can't beat the savings. And the standards are usually very comfortable.
Even better, it's not too late in the season to find some excellent value deals on vacation home rentals, in good locations, for this summer and early autumn.
But I also think that finding a cottage or cabin to rent in a foreign country is a bit like figuring out the bus schedule in a new city. Where do you begin? How do you find out about vacation homes? Who can you trust?
The best way is to start out with a few good websites. That's where I come in. I've been looking around and checking things out for you:
