Popular coastal destination hit by COVID scare just one week after SA border reopens ABC News
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Monday, November 29, 2021
Review: Boreal Lodging, Wiseman, Alaska
During our trip up Alaska’s Dalton Highway, we decided to break up both the trip both ways. Theoretically, you can make the entire trip from Fairbanks to Deadhorse in a single day. In summer, you’re pretty much guaranteed daylight the entire way, thanks to the insanely long days this far north. But the 495-mile trip means 13-15 hours of HARD driving on mostly gravel roads. Not ideal, especially with a small child in tow. So, we decided to break it up. Unless you’re camping, options midway are few and far between, though. There’s Coldfoot Camp, though they didn’t offer advanced reservations in summer 2020. Thankfully, I found Boreal Lodging in Wiseman, just up the road. This turned out to be a unique spot, which we were really glad to find.
Boreal Lodging, Wiseman, Alaska
- 9000 Dalton Highway, MP 189, Wiseman, Alaska
- Website: https://www.boreallodge.com/
- Features: 4 lodge rooms with shared kitchen and bathrooms; 2 cabins with kitchens and private bathrooms; hiking trails; coffee & tea; Dish TV in day room; limited satellite WiFi
The lodge is normally open May through September. They do accept reservations October and November, and March and April, with sufficient advance notice. Nonrefundable deposits of 50-75% are required; there is also a 5% surcharge on credit card payments. And of course, your hotel/airline loyalty points don’t work here.
In talking to the owners, things book up in fall/winter more than summer. Why? The area around Coldfoot is prime viewing area for the the aurora borealis. The lack of light pollution, and a greater chance of clear skies than up on the North Slope, give you a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Location
Wiseman is just shy of the halfway point of the Dalton Highway, and 14 miles north of Coldfoot. It’s a 6-7 hour drive both up to Deadhorse and back to Fairbanks. The only place to obtain food and gas is at Coldfoot Camp, about a 20 minute drive away. However, Coldfoot usually carries no groceries, nor does Deadhorse, so get everything you need for your full trip in Fairbanks. Remember, if you forget your toothbrush, it’s a 7 hour drive back to Fairbanks to get a new one.
To reach Wiseman, going northbound, turn left just past the Middle Fork Koyukuk River bridge #1. Southbound, turn right just before the bridge. The approximate milepost is 189. It’s another 3 miles down the gravel road to Wiseman; beware, it’s rough and gets potholed after heavy rains. You’ll see this sign as you enter Wiseman.
Continue through town, and you’ll find a reassurance sign just before a sharp bend to the left.
Continue about another 1/2 mile to find the bridge.
Past the bridge, it’s about another 1/2 mile to Boreal Lodging. You can’t miss it; you’ll see the office/owner’s house behind a big pile of moose antlers.
Date of Stay: August 2-3 and 5, 2020
Check-In/Reception
The lodge only has 6 rooms, and the owners (Scott and Heidi) double as Park Rangers at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfood. Thus, there aren’t set hours for check-in. Scott and Heidi just ask that you contact them a day or two before arrival with your approximate arrival plans. Heidi was still at the office on our drive up from Fairbanks around 7 pm. She also gave us a quick run-through of the property and some things to do in the area. On the way back, she had the key taped to the office door for us.
I also have to give Scott and Heidi extra props for working with me to reschedule our trip. Originally, we planned our trip for mid-June. That ended up becoming a non-starter because much of what we wanted to do in Anchorage and Denali remained closed until July due to pandemic restrictions. Fortunately, Heidi let me have a “do-over” and applied my deposit to our rescheduled trip in August. We greatly appreciated her flexibility!
Boreal Lodging Wiseman – Cabins and Guest Rooms
We booked the “Boreal” cabin, one of two cabins at the lodge. Current rates are $160 per night for two, plus $25 for third and fourth guests. Add $10 to the base rate during the winter season (October through April). The cabin has a very rusting log cabin look – perfectly appropriate for the remote surroundings.
First, some background to keep your expectations appropriate. You’re not just off the beaten path, you’re WAY off it. As mentioned, there’s one gas station and restaurant about 15 miles away. Otherwise, you’re 270 miles from the nearest city of note (Fairbanks). Many of the services you’d expect even in a fairly remote area like Yellowstone simply don’t exist in the Alaskan backcountry. There’s also no cell phone service, and WiFi is very, very slow and limited. Then again, if you came to Wiseman for a working vacation…you probably should re-assess your priorities. Boreal Lodging provides an alternative for those who don’t want to camp, and offers a few more amenities than the work camp-style accommodations at Coldfoot Camp. But it’s still a very much basic level of accommodation.
The cabin measures a cozy 320 square feet, but makes good use of the available space. Step inside, and you’ll find a fully equipped kitchen to the right.
The kitchen comes impressively well equipped. In addition to a full set of utensils and pots and pans, the pantry comes well stocked with various spices, as well as tea and coffee. The tea and coffee comes courtesy of the owners, though the spices are orphaned by previous guests. You’re free to use whatever you want, but the owners kindly request you leave some behind as well. There’s even a French press to make coffee if that’s your thing.
To your left is the living room, equipped with a couch, a couple of tables, and a TV. Note that you can’t actually get any TV signal up here; Fairbanks is 270 miles away, after all. Instead, it’s there to watch DVDs if you brought your own.
Head straight back, and the downstairs bedroom is to the left. It’s small, but comes with a pair of twin-sized beds, and a well-placed power outlet.
Meanwhile, straight ahead at the very back of the cabin is the bathroom. Continuing a theme, it’s tight, but has both a tub and shower. I didn’t expect the tub, but greatly appreciated it for ease of giving the munchkin a bath. The water heater is rather unique; it’s on demand, in that it turns itself on when you turn on the hot water faucet.
There’s also an extra bed upstairs in the loft. To reach the loft, climb the wooden ladder from the living room.
Once up the ladder, you’ll find a queen-size bed, along with a fair amount of storage space. We had enough room to unfold Ashok’s travel crib up here. Watch your head, though; the ceiling is pretty low. There is also an extra outlet up here to plug in your gadgets.
Both Ashok and my mother enjoyed posing from the loft. My son in particular couldn’t get enough of going up and down the ladder.
The cabin has an oil burning space heater for heat. Granted, it’s not terribly cold in August, but still, it kept the cabin plenty warm. One thing to also keep in mind when visiting in summer – the days are ridiculously long. The sun doesn’t set from late May through mid-July. By early August, you still have nearly 19 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 4:30 am and sunset around 11:30 pm. The curtains do their job, but just remember to draw them shut. Lest you fancy the sun shining in your face at really odd hours.
Finally, the unit was clean, and most importantly, everything worked as it should.
Next door to the Boreal cabin is the “Polar” cabin. It has a similar layout to Boreal, except there’s only one bed in the downstairs bedroom; thus, maximum occupancy is three persons.
If you’re looking to save some money, Boreal Lodging also has four standard motel rooms. Each room has two single beds; prices are $90 for one and $110 for two in the summer. Add $10 to each during the winter.
In the middle of the main building is a shared kitchen and common living room.
The main lodge has two shared bathrooms next door.
Boreal Lodging Wiseman – General Location and Property
If you’re looking for someplace to truly get away from it all, this is about as good a place as there is. The property itself is beautiful, situated on the banks of Wiseman Creek. You can enjoy a quiet hike along the creek in both directions. The lodge property itself is plenty large to enjoy a nice walk and enjoy the scenery of the foothills of the Brooks Range.
If you do plan on hiking here, don’t forget the bug spray. Alaskan mosquitoes are a special breed of evil in the summer.
Wiseman itself is a truly beautiful place, nestled in the Koyukuk River valley in the Brooks Range foothills. Think the landscape of the Rockies, but with a fraction of the people. (Because there are very few people crazy enough to actually drive this far north.)
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself heading up the Dalton Highway, Boreal Lodging in Wiseman is a great option to break up the trip. The family-run establishment offers clean, comfortable accommodations a cut above the other option along this stretch of the Dalton. It’s a great area to stretch your legs for a couple of days headed to or from the Arctic Ocean, or a good spot to watch the Northern Lights.
Read the rest of this article at Review: Boreal Lodging, Wiseman, Alaska.
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, November 28, 2021
10 Budget-Friendly HOTELS & RESORTS IN ANTIPOLO with Swimming Pool or Amazing Views
Traveling to Antipolo City this new normal? Check out this list of affordable Antipolo hotels and resorts with swimming pool to book for a comfortable and memorable adventure near Metro Manila!
Located just an hour away from Metro Manila, Antipolo City is definitely one of the best destinations for a quick trip or weekend getaway near the Metro. A trip to Antipolo is surely an extremely
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Friday, November 26, 2021
Thursday, November 25, 2021
10 CHEAP HOTELS IN TAGAYTAY: Affordable Hotels in Tagaytay Under ₱1,000 per night
Looking for cheap, affordable and budget-friendly hotels in Tagaytay for less than 1,000 pesos?
Tagaytay is a favorite destination among city dwellers and weekend staycationers because of its proximity from Metro Manila. If you're planning a trip and looking for cheap, budget hotels in Tagaytay City, I listed here some of the affordable hotels, hostels, inns, lodges, guest and pension houses
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, November 24, 2021
Back in the USA, after 20 months of no travel
It is my first flight since March 2020, and the ritual of flying with Singapore Airlines felt oddly surreal yet familiar, almost like a homecoming of sorts.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, November 23, 2021
10 Best Hotels and Beach Resorts in Siargao Island Philippines
Looking for the best place to stay in Siargao? Check out this list of luxury Siargao beach resorts, mid-range hotels & cheap resorts for your trip this 2021!
Siargao Island is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines. Known as the "Surfing Capital of the Philippines", it is home to the country's most famous surfing spot, Cloud 9. Hailed several times as one of the "Best Islands
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Monday, November 22, 2021
Moving Forward After Lockdown – A Different Malaysia, Living with COVID-19
Forever Movement Control Order (FMCO) Malaysia has undergone approximately 300 days of lockdown since the first lockdown was imposed in March 2020. Under Muhyiddin’s PN team, not only the number of COVID-19 cases did not [...]
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Sunday, November 21, 2021
USA holidays: The lights are back on in Chicago - and deep dish pizza and blues music await
Hugo Brown joins an epic food tour of the West Loop neighbourhood and watches Buddy Guy, who inspired the Rolling Stones, perform at his blues bar Legends.
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, November 20, 2021
Friday, November 19, 2021
Traveling With Dogs During the Cold? Here’s What You Need to Know
The holiday season is a busy time for travel, and if you're bringing your furry friend with you, you may be going to a place where it's pretty cold.
As the saying goes, if you're cold, your pets are cold too. So, here are some essential rules you need to know when traveling with your furry companion.
Come Prepared
First, let's get some common sense out of the way. When traveling, you
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, November 18, 2021
2021 LAOAG & ILOCOS NORTE TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS for TOURISTS & VISITORS (November 2021)
Traveling to Laoag and Ilocos Norte soon? Here are the latest Laoag and Ilocos Norte travel requirements, entry protocols, and travel guidelines for tourists, visitors and other types of travelers!
The Province of Ilocos Norte is under Alert Level 2 from November 16-30, 2021. According to the Department of Tourism Philippine's website, the province is currently open for tourism. As it eases
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
An Evening of Splendor with Martell at The Westin Kuala Lumpur
An exclusive Evening of Splendor with Martell, where guests immerse themselves at Westin Club Lounge for an evening with Martell host by Martell’s brand ambassador, Jean-Baptiste Gourvil. This exclusive soirée on Friday, 24 September 2021 [...]
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
DC Restaurant houses the first Louis XIII Room in Southeast Asia
The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, the Louis XIII Room at DC Restaurant is one of the finest collaborations between 2 heavyweight elites: Louis XIII the world first ultra-premium cognac since 1874 that [...]
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Monday, November 15, 2021
Raising Naples: how the catacombs of saints transformed Sanità
Tours of ancient catacombs run by a local group of friends are revitalising a Naples neighbourhood that was once prey to the Camorra
“If you walked around Sanità 15 years ago with your camera on your shoulder like that it would’ve been stolen,” says local shopkeeper Antonio Vitozzi, pointing at my battered Nikon. More than likely I would’ve been nowhere near this neighbourhood back then. Riven by urban decay and high unemployment, Naples’ poorest district used to be a dangerous place where the Camorra held sway. It wasn’t just Italians afraid to come here but Neapolitans too.
Not these days, though. Sanità has undergone a quite miraculous transformation thanks to La Paranza, a cooperative of idealistic young friends who began running guided tours to Italy’s finest catacombs in the early 2000s. At the time, the only access to the catacombs was granted by the Catholic church for academic study.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Sunday, November 14, 2021
The towers and the glory: Simon Jenkins’ favourite cathedrals in Europe
Surviving bombs, fires and even secularism, Europe’s great cathedrals stand defiant. Here are 11 ‘masterpieces of art and architecture’
Europe’s cathedrals are its wonders of the world. From Salisbury to Seville, Moscow to Palermo, Trondheim to Istanbul, they tower over its cities, masterpieces of art and architecture whose popularity increases by the generation. Even as religious worship continues to decline, attendance at cathedral services has risen by a third in 20 years.
What is it that still draws people to these places? To me the answer transcends faith. It lies in a quest for spiritual and emotional meaning that is found, quite simply, in the beauty of buildings and their decoration. The medieval imagination has an undying appeal today. Everyone should see Europe’s 100 greatest cathedrals before they die. I offer 11 easily reachable ones.
Continue reading...* This article was originally published here
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Friday, November 12, 2021
‘You’ll be changed forever by this journey’: readers’ favourite rail trips
From Corsica’s narrow gauge trains to Scotland’s West Highland line, our tipsters take a window seat and enjoy a kaleidoscope of landscapes
We’ve visited Corsica a few times. As penniless students sleeping on the beach, as new parents with travel cot and buggy in tow, and as newly retired tourers with hire car. But our best-ever Corsican trip was with a seven-day Pass Libertà for the 230 miles of the Chemins de Fer de la Corse, which costs just €50. The Y-shaped network links the coastal towns of Bastia, Ajaccio (both accessible by train and ferry via mainland France), Calvi and hilltop Corte, showcasing Corsica’s unbelievable mountain scenery and spectacular coasts. Hard to pick the best leg of the journey, but pulling in to Calvi station at dusk along the sweeping sandy beach takes some beating.
cf-corse.corsica
Alison
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Flying Private from The Philippines to Canada: The Epitome of Comfort and Ease
So you and your family have been on holiday in the Philippines. It's been a long few years of COVID panic and restrictions, so you decided that, since restrictions have started to ease up, it was time to embrace travel once again and treat your nearest and dearest to exploring somewhere new and exciting. Manila in the Philippines is the cultural hub of the country; so where better to take your
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Changes To CDC Travel Advisories List For Week Of November 8, 2021
NOTE: This post usually updates on Tuesdays.
The Center For Disease Control (CDC) has updated its weekly list of high-risk countries. Four poplular countries have moved up to the very high-risk, level 4 countries. The list of country designations continues to be a moving target with some countries moving up the list and some moving down to lower categories.
Countries Reopening In The Next 30 Days
- Chile is now open to fully vaccinated visitors without quarantine. If the results of a PCR test completed upon arrival into one of three Chilean airports (Iquique, Antofagasta, and Arturo Merino Benítez) are negative, the quarantine requirements will be waived.
- India is now open if visitors are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid within 72 hours of arrival to India. The Indian travel ban was set to expire on November 15th and has been extended to November 30, 2021.
- Fiji is expected to reopen to tourists on December 1, 2021. The requirements will be full vaccinations, a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival and an rapid test was taken within 48 hours of arrival.
Unvaccinated Americans Returning To the United States
If you are an American who is not vaccinated, returning to the United States will get more complicated. The new travel rules will make two significant changes:
- The testing window for return Covid testing will be reduced from three days down to one day. This means a Covid test was conducted 24 hours prior to departure.
- Unvaccinated travelers will be required to test again after they return to the United States. Where and when this test is to be performed has yet to be decided.
The new testing window for unvaccinated Americans can be problematic because you will need an approved test with a fast turnaround time for the results. You will have to show proof of a negative Covid test prior to boarding your flight.
Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States can be found here.
Countries Moving Up To Level 4
Destinations that fall into the “Covid-19 very high” Level 4 category have had more than 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, according to CDC parameters. The Level 3 category applies to destinations that have had between 100 and 500 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days. This week, there are currently 79 destinations that remain at Level 4.
These countries have moved up the list to level 4 from previously lower levels. The main reason this has happened is that the CDC has received more complete data on the actual conditions in those countries.
- Cayman Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
Here are popular countries remaining at level 4. Many of the latest countries that remain at level 4 are the most popular vacation destinations in Europe due to a surge in the Delta variant.
- Austria
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Botswana
- Croatia
- Greece
- Maldives
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
There were 80 countries at Level 4 as of November 8.
These Countries Have Moved To Level 3
Four countries on the list this week have either improved or were downgraded. They are:
- Iran – previously level 4
- Republic of Congo – previously level 4
- Sint Martin – previously level 4
- Thailand – previously level 4
Countries That Have Improved To Level 2
- Nepal – previously level 3
- United Arab Emirates – previously level 3
Countries Now Reported At Level 1
• Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
• Guinea-Bissau
• Malawi
• Rwanda
• Sudan
Popular Countries With Unknown Risks
The following countries have insufficient data for the CDC to assign a risk level:
- Cambodia
- Madagascar
- Nicaragua
- Syria
General Guidance
CDC guidance for Level 3 and Level 4 destinations urges unvaccinated travelers to avoid nonessential travel to those locations. The CDC also recommends avoiding all international travel until you are fully vaccinated.
The Full List And Travel Advisories
The full list along with travel advisories from the CDC can be found here. This list changes weekly so it might be a site to add to your travel bookmarks.
All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Final Thoughts
The list of countries that the CDC maintains continues to change every week as more data is known. Some countries have improved and some have declined. Some countries including the United States improve and then fall into a state of decline. This CDC list and advisories are posted to help you make an educated decision on whether to travel or not.
The next update is scheduled for November 16, 2021.
Read the rest of this article at Changes To CDC Travel Advisories List For Week Of November 8, 2021.
* This article was originally published here
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Holidays on ice at St. Pete's Postcard Inn
The beachfront resort will feature ice skating in its courtyard from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 as well as snow-making machines, festive lighting, hot cocoa and other goodies.
* This article was originally published here
* This article was originally published here
Monday, November 8, 2021
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)