Oct 4th, 2011
by multilingual.
The vibrant Spanish city of Barcelona is a seaport in the region of Catalonia. As the second largest city in Spain, it is an important travel hub and a popular destination for short breaks. If you are looking for somewhere with a laid back cosmopolitan feel, buzzing late night café culture, and great shopping, then Barcelona could be the ideal choice.
You are spoilt for things to see and do in this bustling Mediterranean Spanish city. Famous for the Art Nouveau architecture of Antonio Gaudi, the stunning Sagradi Familia Cathedral makes it onto the itinerary of most visitors. Barcelona also has a world famous football team with a global army of fans. You can take guided tours around Camp Nou, the legendary football ground of Barcelona FC. If art is your passion, the Picasso Museum is worth a visit, where you will find almost four thousand of the great Spanish painter’s works.
The city’s close proximity to the sea guarantees the freshest seafood available. Barcelona’s restaurants cater for all palates and budgets, offering a choice of international and regional cuisine. As a popular travel destination, a large number of hotels provide accommodation, ranging from budget hostels to five star luxury hotels.
Flights to Barcelona from the UK take two to three hours arriving at either Girona or Reus airport.
For travelling around the city, a clean and efficient Metro service is available. This is especially pleasant to use in summer when temperatures are high. Good buses and cheap taxis are also available, but as many parts of central Barcelona are pedestrianised, exploring on foot could be a better way of seeing the sights.
Posted in: Air Travel, City Guide, Travel Destinations.
Sep 26th, 2011
by multilingual.
There are some people who are firmly convinced that river cruises offer the best in holiday travel in some of the world’s most beautiful locations.
For those who love the idea of a cruise but do not want to spend all their time at sea, a river cruise is the perfect way to experience the rich history and culture of an area. The sheer versatility and variety of a river cruise makes it one of the most popular cruise holidays today.
Cheap cruises are available all over the world; anyone can travel the rivers and canals of Asia, Europe, North America and South America. It also provides access to cities such as Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Budapest, Paris, Prague and Vienna. These beautiful cities are not available to ocean cruisers.
Travel on the rivers of the world, open up new opportunities to soak up local customs and colour as passengers disembark in the heart of cities to enjoy the amazing architecture, history and modern day life.
The typical river cruise ship accommodates 150-300 passengers. They usually do not have the big ticket amenities of a casino or pool, but there is also no mad dash or long line to board, disembark, or have a meal.
In Europe, river cruises operate on the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers. Paris is accessible from the Seine River tour and the Elba River flows through eastern Germany and Berlin. There are Amazon River cruises for the adventurous in South America, Yangtze River cruises in China for those charmed by the mystique of Asian culture, and North America offers Columbia River tour from Oregon to Washington State.
Posted in: Cruise Holidays, Travel Tips.
Sep 23rd, 2011
by multilingual.
The word may be unfamiliar to some, but Zorbing has become a regular sight in magazines and on the television. For the uninitiated, it’s the sport of rolling down a hill in a large transparent ball; this odd activity is known as Zorbing and has featured in several commercials and television shows in recent months. It certainly looks like a lot of fun and has become an increasingly popular leisure pastime and part of outdoor activity holidays.
The first commercial zorb was created by Dwane van der Sluis and Andrew Akers in New Zealand in 1994, and interest quickly spread across the country and beyond. The zorb itself is one transparent ball inside another with the layer of air in-between acting as a shock absorber for the rider. Typically three metres in height and made of lightweight plastic, they can contain a harness which straps the rider in or without straps so the rider is tossed about as the ball rolls down the hill. Water can also be added to recreate the experience of being inside a washing machine, and zorbs without a harness can contain up to three riders. Zorbing is also knows as orbing, sphereing or hill rolling.
Companies providing the Zorbing experience are now common in many countries, both as a standalone activity and as part of adventure and sports holidays. Participants frequently describe Zorbing as an exhilarating experience. Extreme sports fans have also become involved in Zorbing, using steeper hills to boost the adrenaline rush.
Posted in: Holidays, Travel Tips.
Sep 19th, 2011
by multilingual.
Canada is well known for its cold weather and snowy mountains. With some of the best skiing in the world on the west coast, travellers can enjoy some of the best and most luxurious resorts anywhere. Of course, Canada offers skiing right across the country, and these are just a selection of the resorts that visitors might like to consider.
Whistler Blackcomb
Located in British Columbia, Whistler Blackcomb is one of Canada’s most well-known ski resorts. With Vancouver under 2 hours away, Whistler is best known for its recent hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and world class ski hills. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are connected by a pedestrian bridge, as well as a Peak to Peak alpine sightseeing gondola.
Banff and Lake Louise
Located in Alberta, three resorts cover these mountains, including Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Mountain Resort. Visitors buy a single ticket that gives them access to all three resorts, with free transportation between them. This area enjoys the longest ski season in North America, ranging from November to late May.
Mont – Tremblant
Located in Tremblant, Quebec, this resort is only an hour’s drive from the city of Montreal and is serviced by an airport. The village is quaint and the views are pretty. Additionally, the resort offers tourists a fun skiing holiday with a French charm.
Blue Mountain
Located in the town of Collingwood, Ontario, Blue Mountain offers a quaint village-like setting complete with shopping and dining facilities. While the mountains in Ontario are not as impressive as other locations in Canada, Blue Mountain still offers some challenging slopes for snowboarding, downhill skiing and tubing.
Posted in: Air Travel, Ski Holidays, Travel Destinations.
Sep 13th, 2011
by multilingual.
One of the islands in the Cyclades – the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea – Mykonos is a very popular tourist destination. With sandy beaches, sunny skies, pleasant water, and a busy nightlife, Mykonos lives up to its reputation for being a tourist hotspot.
Island Living
Mykonos is a small island near the centre of the Aegean Sea. Only 85 square kilometres, the island is home to 9,000 year-round residents. Most of them are located in the island’s two largest towns, Chora and Ano Mera. Transport to Mykonos is available by ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, or by air from Athens.
Fun in the Sun
Most visitors come to Mykonos for two things: sun and sand. The inviting beaches of the island are plentiful, and most of them offer tavernas and restaurants for refreshments as well as facilities for renting umbrellas, chairs, surfboards, and kite boards. To the north, the beaches are windy and best for windsurfing and kite boarding. The south and west sides of the island are well protected from the winds and popular with families and those looking for excellent surfing and snorkelling. Beaches on the east coast are quieter and provide more privacy, but fewer amenities. Do be aware that some beaches on Mykonos allow nudity.
Historic Sites
While most people venture to Mykonos for the beaches, there are also some worthwhile sights to see including Little Venice in Mykonos Town. Nearby there are windmills dating back to the 16th century, formerly used for grain production. Also in Mykonos Town visitors will find the impressive Panagia Paraportiani, a Byzantine church.
The Greek island of Mykonos offers tourists sand, surf, and a bit of history as well.
Posted in: Air Travel, Travel Destinations, Travel Guides, Travel Tips.
Sep 8th, 2011
by multilingual.
If you want to go on a cruise, be sure to pick the one that is right for you. There are many different kinds of cruises, and the differences will be evident in a number of ways. Cruise lines differ from each other quite a lot and what some people will absolutely love may not be for others. For example, an Alaskan scenic cruise that takes in the breathtaking glaciers and historic port towns may absolutely delight the older members of a family or a group of retirees but may bore the kids to tears, whereas the children of the family may instead prefer Caribbean cruises where they can play at the beach and go snorkelling.
The ships differ a lot as well. While all ships will have enough amenities to keep all family members reasonably satisfied, each ship is specifically designed with a certain target demographic in mind. For example, if you’re a fun and adventure loving young couple or a group with a lot of teenagers, you will love the Royal Caribbean cruises with ships that include surf machines, rock climbing walls, basketball courts, and so much more. But if you prefer to take it easy and just watch the scenery, a Holland America ship with wide decks may be better for you.
All cruise holidays are fantastic but it’s a matter of choosing one that fits your personality, what you want to do and see, what kind of occasion the cruise is for, and what level of service and amenities you require.
Posted in: Cruise Holidays, Travel Guides, Travel Tips.
Sep 6th, 2011
by multilingual.
Travellers flying from the Midlands and north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have an increasing number of airports and destinations to choose from as low-cost airline Jet2 continues to expand its services. Based at Leeds Bradford Airport, the company now operates flights from Blackpool, East Midlands, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.
As well as flights to many major European cities, destinations further afield are also available from selected Jet2 airports. These include Prague, Budapest, Krakow, Split and Dubrovnik, Tel Aviv, Bodrum and Dalaman. Holidaymakers heading to the Mediterranean islands are also well catered for with routes to the Balearic Islands, Madeira, Lanzarote, Tenerife, the Grand Canaries, Crete, Larnaca and others. Jet2 has long been popular with clubbers heading to Ibiza, and is becoming the airline of choice for many other travellers as well.
The airline has another ace up its sleeve in flights to New York’s Newark Airport which leave from East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford and Newcastle. Previously, low-cost flights either had limited availability or required travelling to other airports in the UK first. The increasing number of Jet2 routes will only expand the travel opportunities available to those living in northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Jet2 also operates holiday packages across Europe and can provide cheap car hire once holidaymakers reach their destination. They offer discounts for groups of 10 or more and have a frequent-flyer programme called myJet2.
Posted in: Air Travel, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips.
Sep 1st, 2011
by multilingual.
The National Trust is one of the UK’s most respected charities and best known for its role in preserving the cultural and environmental heritage of the nation. Formed in 1894, its full title is The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty and many of its sites provide the ideal holiday location.
Tourist accommodation is a vital source of revenue for the organisation, and they offer a wide range of alternatives to suit most tastes and budgets. The trust has 370 cottages available for weekends, short breaks and holiday lets across the country. They also offer activity holidays for those looking for more than a relaxing break in the country, while working holidays provide the opportunity to do everything from dry stone walling or herding goats to surveying mountain flowers.
The trust has a large selection of camping and caravanning facilities in some of the most picturesque locations in the UK, while many of their sites offer bed and breakfast accommodation. Coastal cruises provide the opportunity to look at the country from a different angle, and the trust have spread their wings further afield offering self-catering accommodation in France, Corsica and Italy.
Those craving a hotel and spa break are also in luck with Historic House Hotels in York, Llandudno and the Vale of Aylesbury. Meanwhile, a partnership with Pride of Britain Hotels provides access to a selection small, privately owned luxury hotels. In other words, the National Trust is an excellent source of holidays for just about everyone.
Posted in: Holidays, Travel Guides, Travel Tips.
Aug 29th, 2011
by multilingual.
The Belgium city of Ghent is a great place to spend the weekend. It may not be the first place that springs to mind, but it has a unique charm and rich history. Ghent is a large modern city with a port to the north, but it’s the medieval heart that makes it special.
The history of Ghent dates back to 630 AD and was founded where two rivers, the Lys and the Scheldt, meet. It now boasts some of the finest medieval architecture in northern Europe including a moat, castle, cathedral, belfry and picturesque cobbled streets, most of which are still in good condition and have been thoroughly restored. It’s also a bustling, social area with numerous cafés and market stalls in the surrounding streets. The centre is Belgium’s largest car-free area which enhances the friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Ghent is well known for its cultural festivals including the Gent Festival van Vlaanderen celebrating classical music, the Flanders International Film Festival and the I Love Techno dance music festival. The most famous, however, is the ten-day Gentse Feesten (Ghent Festival in English) of music and theatre. Known as 10 Days Off, it attracts around two million visitors every year and is one of the biggest cultural events in Europe.
With so much going on, Ghent is well equipped with numerous hotels, apartments, guest houses and budget accommodation as well as excellent camping facilities. House boats are also available to rent. It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that tourism in Ghent has thrived in recent years.
Posted in: City Guide, Travel Destinations, Travel Guides, Travel Tips.
Aug 23rd, 2011
by multilingual.
This beautiful island on India’s southeast coast is home to an ancient civilisation, beautiful people and stunning landscapes. With the end of the civil war in 2009, the formerly inaccessible and beautiful north is now open to visitors. Taking a trip to Sri Lanka will excite and delight all who visit.
Horribly hit by the devastating 2004 tsunami, the southern coast of Sri Lanka has stoically picked itself up, shook itself off and got back to doing what it does best – looking beautiful. Beruwela, for example, is home to gorgeous golden sand, palm-fringed beaches, as well as a turtle sanctuary which will have you giving up all your spare cash, plus a few tears, when you learn about the founders’ touching and very brave actions during the tsunami.
Sri Lanka has plenty to offer outside the standard beach holiday fare too. Kandy, the country’s former capital, is a magical place to spend a few days. You can take a walk through the Botanical Gardens for some bat-spotting, and make sure you visit the Relic of Buddha’s Tooth, the central religious monument in Sri Lanka.
For a foray further into Sri Lankan history take a trip to Sigiriya, otherwise known as Lion’s Rock; this is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin in central Sri Lanka. Another place not to be missed in this pretty island nation is the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, located 90 kilometres from Colombo. Make sure you are there for feeding and bathing time; you can even take a ride through the jungle on these beautiful, gentle creatures.
Posted in: Air Travel, Holidays, Travel Destinations, Travel Tips.
