It's that time of the year again when the children are out of school, the weather beckon you to think of beaches and open land adventure. Ahhh this economic melt-down isn't helping the wallet. Personally, I have been scouting cheap flights to any destinations. Yes you read right ANY. To get out of home base to go somewhere and still have enough left when I come home. That's my intentions this year.
Easyjets are offering 20% discount to U.K. No U.K is not for me they have more problems than us in Italy. Blu-express has flights to Bangkok been there too many times. Decisions, decisions, perhaps somewhere nearer in Europe. Portugal or Spain will be good. Where are you going this summer?
Recently I have some friends who asked where they should go for a new experience. You know a farm stay is a good alternative. We did it sometime ago and it was very different from our regular in city hotel and exploring a city. This is staying outside of a city, exploring the countryside and driving for miles, miles and miles and living on a private cascina. Cascina in Italian means a farm house. There are many restored farm houses now that offers this service. Some even throw in meals. Honestly if you are on a vacation you do not wish to be lock into any schedule to return for meals breakfast is fine. Time is precious and you will use your time to explore rather than to return to your place of accommodation for food. There is a place out in Asti - actually to be precise it is Villafranca Asti that offers good value for money. The apartment is spacious and good for a small family. I featured it on my website and I will personally introduce it to anyone since we have tried it ourselves. Price is reasonable and the host and hostess are very warm people. From here you can travel up to Monferrato wine region, summer is the best time to see grapes being harvest. There are plenty of other vegetation ready for harvest in Piedmont during this season. Open markets are great places to explore, restaurants often offer special menus with special seasonal dishes. Children can ride horses or take bicycle adventures around the open countryside. Many places offer such recreation.
In my opinion with the last 12 months of hell generated by the financial crisis. We should take life back to grass root level to help us put realistic optimitism back into our lives. What say you?
