Advice and Information for the World Traveller on Many Destinations

Archive for the ‘Air Travel’ Category

Edinburgh is one of the world’s great cities. Its castle perched on a great rock overlooking the city has soaked up history like a sponge and appears to be a symbol of defiance and dominance. This first impression can be misleading, as Edinburgh these days is renowned for its hospitality and the friendliness of the residents. With many cheap flights to Edinburgh available visitors are flocking there from all over the world.

The Old Town which dates back to medieval times, and the New Town that was being built when Sir Walter Scott lived there, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of splendid architecture.

Top of Edinburgh’s list of attractions is undoubtedly the famous castle, which dates from the twelfth century and has seen a turbulent and bloody past. You can take a creepy ghost tour around the Old Town if you’re so inclined, but don’t forget the more earthly delights of the five National Galleries and the National Museum. Exhibitions and festivals are held throughout the year, so it is worth looking them up when you plan your visit.

In terms of eating and drinking you are spoilt for choice, and down any main street in Edinburgh you’ll come across plush modern restaurants and smaller bars and brasseries, serving up more traditional fare from the surrounding Lothian region.

In the evenings, venues such as the Cabaret Voltaire host local bands and artistes, and there are plenty of clubs to suit all tastes in music and dance.

This city has something for everyone; so make the most of cheap flights to Edinburgh to guarantee a great time in Scotland.

With its various historical influences and owners, the island of Malta is a fascinating mix of Mediterranean cultures. Malta has been ruled by a number of nations during its fascinating history, creating a unique blend of architectural styles and cultural traditions. Exploring all that Malta has to offer will certainly keep visitors intrigued and entertained, while the beaches provide a perfect place to relax.

Malta’s small capital, Valletta, is a real historical gem. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city and its massive fortifications look over the Grand Harbour below. The narrow backstreets are ripe for exploration, while the main square bustles with activity. The Hypogeum, meanwhile, is the island’s most impressive historical structure. This prehistoric underground necropolis still baffles experts with its many mysteries. Due to its age and importance, only 80 tourists are allowed to enter per day. Be sure to book in advance in order to see this incredible temple.

Malta’s rich Mediterranean history is complemented by some equally spectacular beaches. Ghadira Bay is the island’s most popular spot, especially with families. There is always space on this large stretch of sand backed by cafes and restaurants, and the water is perfect for swimming and parasailing. For greater tranquillity, head west to Gnejna Bay. The beach here is popular with locals but never gets overcrowded.

Getting to Malta is not difficult. Regular ferries connect the island with Italy, the fastest being the catamaran service to and from Sicily. Malta’s International Airport, meanwhile, is well connected with the rest of Europe and North Africa.

Saudi Arabia has long been seen as a closed country where westerners did not go. It is still to a certain extent viewed as something of a forbidden place that does not take kindly to foreigners. Things have started to change slightly during recent years and for those who do venture into the country there are some amazing yet not widely known sites to visit.

Madain Saleh is a place where many ancient peoples came together via trading caravans, pilgrim routes, armies and explorers. Its Temples of the Nabataeans are carved from stone. These were carved by the same craftsmen that built the temples at Petra in Jordan, although they are nowhere near as spectacular.

The north of Saudi Arabia has a number of pre-Islamic sites including those at Al-Ula and the standing stones of Rajajil 25 kilometres from Sakaka, which tourists rarely get permission to visit.  Relics of the Hejaz railway and various forts stand as a reminder of times gone by when trade caravans and groups of pilgrims passed through here every day. The area around Hejaz, which means ‘barrier’ and refers to the escarpment that separates the area from the rest of the country, is the most cosmopolitan in all Saudi Arabia.  This is because of the variety of traders and travellers who have come through the area and have left their mark.

The Hejaz area is an excellent place to spend some time exploring as it is bordered by the Red Sea in the north, and mountains to the south. It also contains the old town of Jeddah which has secrets of its own to reveal and with an abundance of cheap flights available to Saudi Arabia now has never been a better time to visit.

Skiing is the most popular sport in Austria and professional Austrian skiers rank amongst the best in the world. Many people, when they think of Austria, think of cosy Alpine villages and snowy mountain trails. The reality does live up to the hype. For skiers Austria is a wonderful land of old-world chalet villages, lift-linked ski areas, rustic wood-panelled restaurants, mountain huts and exceptional après ski and nightlife. Skiing holidays in Austria can make for a truly memorable holiday.

Whist some might say that Switzerland is more efficient, France more sophisticated and the cuisine of Italy is hard to beat, all agree that for friendliness Austria is the best. Austria is renowned for its after skiing tea times, schnapps on the slopes and late night partying.

The Austrian Alps have three main chains; the High Alps, the Northern Limestone Alps and the Southern Limestone Alps. In the Northern Limestone Alps you will find many natural valleys and resorts such as St. Anton, Lech, Ischgl and Kitzbuhl. The High Alps starts with the Oetzal resorts of Obergurgl and Solden and runs to Innsbruck, Zell am See and Kaprun. The Southern Limestone Alps are on the border with Italy and Slovenia.

Mountain elevation is lower in Austria than in France, Switzerland or Western Italy, but as the winters get colder the further east you travel in the Alps Austria still gets plenty of snow. However, skiers are advised to check snow conditions before planning their vacation if they intend to travel in early winter or spring. High season in Austria is the Christmas to New Year period and February to March. Low season is before Christmas, January after the New Year and late March through to closing in April.

Search on the internet for Ski Holidays Austria to compare packages and prices.

London Heathrow airport is the biggest in the United Kingdom.  It is located just 15 miles from central London and is easily reached via the M4 and M25 motorways.  The airport now has five terminals and offers flights to and from all four corners of the world.  It is linked to the London Underground and overland rail services so is an ideal starting point for tourists.

Tourists have a vast number of hotels to choose from at Heathrow and there are several major tourist attractions within easy travelling distance. Legoland is situated at Windsor and makes a fun day out for all the family.  There are rides, shows and Lego interactive building challenges to stretch the imagination.

Ascot Racecourse has several race meetings each year and in June each year Royal Ascot offers several days of racing, royalty and celebrity spotting.  For those who enjoy rubbing shoulders with the upper classes, Windsor Castle is another popular destination for tourists.  The castle is one of the Queen’s official residences and dates back over a thousand years.  It is home to St George’s Chapel, where a number of royal weddings have taken place. Visitors can also view the Castle’s State Apartments.

For sports enthusiasts, Sunningdale and Wentworth golf clubs are close to the airport.  There is also The Guards Polo club which is one of the largest in Europe.  A large number of members are actually non-players and matches take place most weekends during the summer months in Windsor Great Park.

Group skiing holidays are great with all the fun and camaraderie that a number of like minded friends have when they get together on a skiing holiday. Whilst you may have organised a ski holiday for yourself or your family booking one for a group of perhaps 8 or more people presents a different challenge. Using a ski holiday specialist is the best place to start because you will receive friendly, efficient and helpful service from their experienced staff and you will have a dedicated point of contact for your group right from the start. There are a thousand things to plan such as rooming, equipment, lift passes, special diets, medical requirements and transport, let the ski holiday experts take everything off your hands.

A fantastic place for a group ski holiday is Sestriere which is in the heart of the fab Milky Way skiing area, one of the World’s biggest ski circuits. Purpose built and snow sure Sestriere hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics and investment is ongoing. Sestriere is a great choice for beginners because there are wide village nursery slopes and some long gentle blues which are ideal for snow plough experts. The lift system is easy for beginners as well. They will find the links to Sauze and Sansicario a bit of a struggle but there’s plenty to do locally. For keen intermediates and advanced skiers Sestriere has fantastic possibilities. There is over 400kms of great skiing featuring plenty of interesting ski journeys to Sauze, Sansicario, Cesana and eventually to Claviere and Montgenevre. Sestriere is modern, cosmopolitan, and well equipped with a big choice of après ski. It’s very much a leading part of the Italian ski resorts. Nearby Borgata is an old mountain community with some nice traditional buildings but hardly any nightlife, not quite the place for a group of skiers, stick to Sestriere guys which is large, lively, popular and well equipped.

As one of the most spectacular natural attractions in North America, tourists flock towards the Niagara Falls. Here, running along the border between Canada and the USA, the waters of the Niagara River plummet downwards forming the most powerful waterfall in North America.

The Niagara Falls can be seen from either the US or Canadian side. From the US side (in the state of New York), Prospect Point Park and Goat Island offer some of the best views. A trail leads from Goat Island to a point beneath the section known as Bridal Veil Falls, where the Cave of the Winds viewing platform takes visitors right up to the plunging water.

On the Canadian side (the province of Ontario), Queen Victoria Park provides some great views. A series of underground walkways can be accessed from here, leading to cleverly situated observation rooms that give the impression of being within the falls themselves. An observation deck at the top of the nearby Skyline Tower gives a splendid overhead view of the waterfall.

The famous Maid of the Mist boat cruise is available from both sides of the Niagara Falls. Passengers are taken to all the major points along the waterfall; prepare to get wet, as the Horseshoe Falls section takes tourists deep into the dense spray of the falling water.

The twin towns on each side of the river are both called Niagara Falls. They are connected by three bridges allowing easy access from one to the other. The nearest city on the US side is Buffalo (about 23 miles), while Hamilton is the closest in Canada (40 miles).

Unsurprisingly for a large city like Moscow, there are plenty of sights and tourist attractions, and from historical to theatrical there will be something to please everyone. Flights to Moscow have become cheap over the past few years and once you have landed at Domodedovo Airport you are only 14 miles from this fantastic city. Probably the best place to start would be Moscow’s Red Square, home to a host of sights such as the Kremlin, St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s tomb.

St Basil’s Cathedral

Set in the middle of Moscow’s Red Square and arguably the most recognisable tourist attraction in the city is St Basil’s Cathedral. Although somewhat chaotic, the architecture is a true work of art. Built in 1561, it was originally called Potrovsky Cathedral but was renamed later by Tsar Ivan the Terrible, who is said to have liked the cathedral because the domes reminded him of Tartar’s heads on sticks. Rebuilt many times, the cathedral you see today is around 200 years old.

The Kremlin

The Kremlin is a fortified collection of buildings in the heart of Moscow overlooking St Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square. Contained inside the walls are three ancient cathedrals, which are all open to sightseers, together with the Kremlin Palace, which is the official residence of the Russian President. The Presidential palace is not open to visitors. Tickets to tour the Kremlin are available to buy at the ticket office located in Alexander’s Garden.

Lenin’s Mausoleum

Lenin’s tomb was built in 1930 to house the body of the Bolshevik leader.  It is rumoured that there is an underground railway hidden beneath the tomb ready to whisk away the body at any sign of hostilities.

Winter getaways don’t necessarily have to involve roughing it in a basic chalet. Luxury ski holidays combine spending time on the slopes with the finest cuisine and other amenities designed to help make the experience an unforgettable one.

When looking for your ski deal you should consider the location first. Do you want to go skiing in Europe, the United States or Canada? Once you have made your selection you can start to narrow down your search by country or region.

Now that you have a general area in mind, you can start investigating the different options available for ski holidays. Are you interested in staying at a luxury ski chalet or would a four or five-star hotel be a better choice for you? Luxury apartments are also available to people on ski holidays, and this is a good choice for families and groups travelling together.

Consider the other amenities offered by different resort operators before making your decision. Do you want to stay at a location offering spa services as well as proximity to the slopes? Is luxury dining after a day spent outdoors important to you? Would you like to be able to relax in a pool or a hot tub at the end of the day?

Luxury ski holidays can create memories that will last a lifetime. Picture the kind of experience you would like to have first, and then you will have a much easier time narrowing down your search for the right resort. The only thing you will need to think about is what to pack!

Getting around Dublin is fairly easy, as long as you don’t try to drive a car. Severe congestion in the city makes driving difficult, but there are plenty of public transport options available. Flights to Dublin are relatively cheap nowadays bringing more tourists to this ever popular city.

As Dublin is a fairly small and compact city just walking around is a good option, there are a variety of sights to see, and this is one way to make sure you don’t miss any of them.

For those that do decide to drive around the city centre there are many parking facilities available, although some can be fairly expensive. Pay and display parking meters for on-street parking is a good option but maximum parking is usually three hours; be aware that there is a keen wheel clamping system in place for those cars illegally parked.

Regular bus services run through the city courtesy of Dublin Bus, with services starting at 6am running all through the day until 11.30pm.  Also, after midnight on weekends there is a nightly bus service run by Nightlink. Having the correct money to pay for your journey on all bus routes is recommended, as often change is not given.

There are numerous taxi companies operating around Dublin city, fares are reasonable, but for longer journeys it is always best to agree a price beforehand. Recognisable by the yellow sign on the roof, flag one down, or call to arrange a pick up. It’s as easy as that.

There is a new tram system operating in Dublin called Luas, these run on a couple of routes and offer a speedy service. Another option is to cycle around the city, but again congestion can be a major problem.  Bicycle hire is available at several Dublin city outlets.