This month we are starting a new feature called "tried and tested". Basically we try out products and services of companies
in the Marbella area which we think will be of interest to our readers and write about our experiences. This month we visited
"Ticket to Ride" who offer team building days to companies, to try out their services. We arrived at their offices in crystamar
centre in Puerto Banus at 10.00 to be met by Sebastian our guide for the first and most fun part of our day quadbiking. We
left the office in their air conditioned Landrover Defender and started the drive to our first port of call in Istan. When we
arrived we were like kids in a sweet shop tring to decide which one of the powerful 300cc quads we were going to be driving
for the next hour, we both chose the polaris quads. Sebastian showed us how to operate the quads which took about 30
seconds as they were automatic and there was a lever to pull to go and a brake lever to pull to stop. So we were on our
way to the first part of the course. This is where they find out what level of rider you are with a few laps around a very short
course, then we were on our way following the landrover along some dirt tracks up to a large open area with breathtaking
views, where we could open up the throttle a bit more and have some fun driving through muddy puddles and over some
rougher terrain.After this we drove on road for a bit at speeds of up to 70kmh (which doesn't sound that fast, but on a quad
it feels like 100mph) to get to Nagueles forest.When we arrived we were taken aback by the beauty of the area and it
almost seemed a crime to spoil the silence with our noisy quads. We followed the LandRover along a trail through the forest
for another 30 minutes or so. Then (sadly) it was time to take the quads back and head on down the lake at Istan to meet
Lars the owner of the company who took over as our guide for the next few hours. Here we were given the choice of
kyaking, Canadian canoeing or water skipping but after a demonstration of water skipping from Lars we both bottled it, not
trusting that this very clever aero-foil device would keep us on the suface of the water for very long.So we opted for the
kyaking and canoeing. After a brief tutorial from Lars, (Who incidentley was a world champion canoeist a few years ago)
Simon climbed into the kyak and I must admit whilst standing there with a camera in my hand I have never wanted anyone
to fall in so much but unfortunatly he didn't. After a few laps around the lake we jumped into the canadian canoe and rowed
out to the middle of the lake to take some photo's of the amazing scenery surrounding us.Then it was on to the giant brain
teasers which are part of the team building courses that the company offer the idea is to solve the puzzles using teamwork
and thus building your team but due to time restrictions we gave up after 15 minutes of struggling with the massive blocks
of wood (I am sure that given more time we would have cracked it eventually). Our teambuilding experience lasted for four
hours which definatley wasn't long enough. So if you own a company and feel that your staff deserve a great day out to
boost moral or if you are a private individual with a few mates who are looking for a day of action packed adventure, or if
you fancy a safari tour in one of the air conditioned Land rovers, get on the phone to "Ticket to Ride" now to book your
tour, it comes highly recommended by us.
in the Marbella area which we think will be of interest to our readers and write about our experiences. This month we visited
"Ticket to Ride" who offer team building days to companies, to try out their services. We arrived at their offices in crystamar
centre in Puerto Banus at 10.00 to be met by Sebastian our guide for the first and most fun part of our day quadbiking. We
left the office in their air conditioned Landrover Defender and started the drive to our first port of call in Istan. When we
arrived we were like kids in a sweet shop tring to decide which one of the powerful 300cc quads we were going to be driving
for the next hour, we both chose the polaris quads. Sebastian showed us how to operate the quads which took about 30
seconds as they were automatic and there was a lever to pull to go and a brake lever to pull to stop. So we were on our
way to the first part of the course. This is where they find out what level of rider you are with a few laps around a very short
course, then we were on our way following the landrover along some dirt tracks up to a large open area with breathtaking
views, where we could open up the throttle a bit more and have some fun driving through muddy puddles and over some
rougher terrain.After this we drove on road for a bit at speeds of up to 70kmh (which doesn't sound that fast, but on a quad
it feels like 100mph) to get to Nagueles forest.When we arrived we were taken aback by the beauty of the area and it
almost seemed a crime to spoil the silence with our noisy quads. We followed the LandRover along a trail through the forest
for another 30 minutes or so. Then (sadly) it was time to take the quads back and head on down the lake at Istan to meet
Lars the owner of the company who took over as our guide for the next few hours. Here we were given the choice of
kyaking, Canadian canoeing or water skipping but after a demonstration of water skipping from Lars we both bottled it, not
trusting that this very clever aero-foil device would keep us on the suface of the water for very long.So we opted for the
kyaking and canoeing. After a brief tutorial from Lars, (Who incidentley was a world champion canoeist a few years ago)
Simon climbed into the kyak and I must admit whilst standing there with a camera in my hand I have never wanted anyone
to fall in so much but unfortunatly he didn't. After a few laps around the lake we jumped into the canadian canoe and rowed
out to the middle of the lake to take some photo's of the amazing scenery surrounding us.Then it was on to the giant brain
teasers which are part of the team building courses that the company offer the idea is to solve the puzzles using teamwork
and thus building your team but due to time restrictions we gave up after 15 minutes of struggling with the massive blocks
of wood (I am sure that given more time we would have cracked it eventually). Our teambuilding experience lasted for four
hours which definatley wasn't long enough. So if you own a company and feel that your staff deserve a great day out to
boost moral or if you are a private individual with a few mates who are looking for a day of action packed adventure, or if
you fancy a safari tour in one of the air conditioned Land rovers, get on the phone to "Ticket to Ride" now to book your
tour, it comes highly recommended by us.
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