Branch Out!

In the words of E. M. Forster, ‘what is the good of stars and trees, sunrise and the wind, if they do not enter into our daily lives?’  While many tribes in Indonesia still use tree houses for practical survival reasons, most are reserved for the wish lists of children worldwide. 

In an age of growing environmental concerns and ever-adventurous holiday packages, tree houses have now become a realistic and viable holiday solution for audacious adults and children alike.  Adventurous travellers (aka not afraid of heights) can soar above the stale continental breakfasts and drably decorated rooms of conventional hotels, by reliving their childhood dreams in breathtakingly peaceful and truly unique lodgings.  With all this abysmal British weather, I thought I'd create a fantasy list of the best tree-house hotels where intrepid travellers can, literally, go out on a limb for their next jaunt.

Sweden, Treehotel

These guys know tree houses.  Born from the film, ‘The Tree Lover’ by Jonas Selberg Augustsén, Scandinavia’s leading architects were inspired to provide a low-impact, sophisticated haven from the stresses of everyday life; by situating their Treehotel with spectacular views of the Lule river.  Treehotel, located just fifty kilometers outside of the city of Luleå, offers five breathtakingly innovative and unique tree rooms; the combination of groundbreaking modernity juxtaposed with the peace and purity of unspoiled nature, is sensitively executed so that the Treehotel physically complements the natural setting of the site.  For example, The Bird’s Nest treeroom is formed of recycled fallen branches and is accessed through a remote-controlled retractable staircase.  Other treerooms, which are of differing size, include The Mirrorcube, a light-weight aluminum structure which reflects the natural surroundings back onto itself, The Cabin, The Blue Cone, the UFO and even a Tree Sauna.  This is my pick of the bunch for a truly unique, extremely sophisticated stay in the heart of nature.

Tree house for 2, from £320 per night. http://www.treehotel.se/, +46 (0)928 104 03

Costa Rica – The Tree House Lodge

Replace the sounds of car alarms and sirens with the peaceful humming of crickets and the singing of parrots.  The Tree House Lodge is located on the Punta Uva beach, in the province of Limón, where activities such as surfing, white water rafting and natural educational classes are available.  It was constructed solely using fallen trees and recycled materials and with solar powered electricity and locally sourced food and furnishings, this venture is dedicated to maintaining the environment and the community.  Supporting this treetop complex is probably the only place you can feel like you’re doing good deeds while doing absolutely nothing at all.

From £186 a night, http://www.costaricatreehouse.com/, +(506) 2750 0706      

India – Tree House Hideaway, Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh

Tree House Hideaway offers an absolute assault on the senses. Not only is the reception, bar and dining room open-air and filled with animal sounds, it also has a panoramic lookout point over the reservation’s highly populated watering hole.  The accommodation consists of five spacious tree houses adorned with vibrant tribal paintings, colourful fabrics and huge balconies with sensational views.  Open jeeps and experienced guides are on hand to provide tours around the reservation, which is home to the largest tiger population in India.

Treehouse for two, full board from £165, http://www.treehousehideaway.com/, +91 12442 22657

Mexico – Xinalani Retreat

For all the yoga bunnies out there, this one is for you.  This retreat centre is relaxation in a nutshell.  Set in a jungle overlooking pristine, white-sand beaches, Xinalani combines yoga facilities, healthy food and open-air accommodation.  This place is seriously dedicated to maintaining the environment by minimising their carbon footprint, encouraging eco tourism and avoiding land modification at all costs.

From £128 per person, per night. http://www.xinalaniretreat.com/, (+52) (322) 221 5918

Spain – Cabanes Als Arbres

Located just 52 miles from the heart of Spain’s cultural hub, Barcelona, Cabanes Als Arbres offers 10 fully furnished tree houses perched atop Douglas fir trees.  Hanging 10 metres above the forest floor, the site’s philosophy is to educate visitors about the environment, while providing comfortable accommodation in the heart of the forest’s natural ecosystem.  The Viletta home stay within the grounds provides more civilised amenities including a swimming pool, spa facilities and a bar.

Tree house for two including breakfast from £78, http://www.cabanesalsarbres.com/en, +(34) 625 411 409

MOVE

On rainy days like this, it's only natural that we're all going to get itchy feet and dream of warmer places.  This video was created by Australian freelance filmmaker and illustrator, Rick Mereki.  The finished product was made by three weary travellers over 44 days. They took 18 flights to span 11 countries and 38, 000 miles in order to make this amazing short film. If the rain doesn't do it, this montage is sure to kick our travel bug into action!

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

When in Rome...

I’m addicted to researching holidays and as we’ve had 2 months worth of rain in 5 days, it’s inevitable that my mind is going to wander onto ideas of hotter climates and foreign jaunts.  I had originally planned to do a mini travel guide every month, but I have been getting far too carried away with everything London has to offer us! Still, I thought it was better late than never!

My first travel guide is going to focus on Rome; the McWhinney’s have a bit of Italy fever so it is somewhere which I have gone to, at least once every 2 years, for the last 18 years.  It’s the perfect destination for a short city break; not too far, delicious food, amazing sights and culture, dishy men (and women!), lovely people and the best ice cream in the world – what more could you ask for?!  I thought I’d share my pick of the best places to stay, eat and see in Rome without spending the big bucks.

Best place to Stay: Blue Hostel

Don’t let the name put you off, this is by no means a hostel.  Housed in a 17^th Century house, the pristine, well-decorated rooms (all with en-suite) are an absolute bargain at €60 a night in April for a double room.  Situated between Termini Station and the Colosseum, the hostel is not in the most central location but is still walking distance from all the sites - (the best way to see Rome is by walking.)  The owner, Ercole, meets your from Termini train station and gives you a map, on which he marks his recommendations of great restaurants and places to have a nice bevy.  He’s also on hand 24/7 in case something goes wrong.  All in all, it’s a perfect option for staying in Rome - pristine, friendly and affordable!

How to get there:

Easyjet are always having sales with flights from London to Rome, so keep an eye out.  Once arriving at the airport, the best way to get into the city centre is by train to Roma Termini.  Tickets are much cheaper than getting a taxi and the Italian train services are very reliable.

Where to Eat:

Rome is saturated with places to eat and drink, but with so many picturesque tourist spots, it’s easy to choose a restaurant where you’ll be ripped off and be missing out on the delicious food that smaller, less well known restaurants have to offer.  Particularly notorious tourist traps are the restaurants around the Pantheon and on the beautiful Piazza Navona (I found bugs in my salad there!).

A trendy, up-and-coming area of Rome is the cobbled streets of Trastevere where two of my restaurant picks are located:

-       Da Enzo is genuinely Italian...except without the friendly people.  Don’t expect niceties and smiles; it’s all about the food.  The first time we tried to eat here, the place was rammed and we were briskly turned away, so I would suggest going for an early or late dinner (although not too late – you don’t want to piss them off even more!)  It’s delicious and cheap, so try it out.

-       Augusto is cut from the same cloth.  With queues snaking out of the door every single night, the meal can sometimes feel a bit rushed.  With a limited choice of one pasta dish, one risotto and one meat, the menu is about quality not quantity and it can all be washed down with a nice big carafe off their delicious (and cheap!) house wine.  This is one of my absolute favourites, so don’t miss it!

Although I have warned against eating at busy tourist attractions, there are some excellent alternatives nearby.  Near Piazza Navona are:

-       Cul de Sac, a very popular wine bar, with a wine selection as long as your arm!  You can also eat here, and the food looked delicious but was quite pricey, so I would recommend coming here for delicious drinks only.

-       Ristorante Maccheroni – we loved the carbonara and gnocchi here so much, that we tried to go back for a second helping on our last day (unfortunately it was shut).  This pick is a little bit more expensive than my other suggestions, but still won’t break the bank and their carbonara is not to be missed!

Where to get the best ice cream:

Without a doubt, Giolitti, not only has a fantastic name, but also dishes out the best ice cream in town to native Italians and tourists alike.  Situated round the corner from the Pantheon, be sure to expect substantial queues.  However, the jokey staff makes the queuing enjoyable and you’re often grateful to have enough time to do your ‘ip-dip-doos’ before having choosing your ice cream flavours.

The Roman highlights for me are:

- The Trevi Fountain - every wish I’ve made there has come true!

- The Spanish Steps – a great place to people watch and take a breather from shopping while soaking up the sun

- The Pantheon – amazing architecturally and a good place to cool down and enjoy a cheeky ice cream.

- The Colosseum and Forum – expect queues but it is a must-see – at least once!

- Vittorio Emanuele Monument– climb up to the top to get the best views across Rome

- The Vatican – if you fancy getting a sneak peek of the Pope, he often does public addresses before cruising around in his Pope Mobile, so research before you go.

- Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo – great atmosphere with street artists and musicians.

So there we have it – my pick of Rome’s best bits.  I’m always eager to try new places, so if anyone has any other recommendations, let me know and I’ll try them in the Summer!