Your Travel City Guide

Add a little spice to your next cruise by including a cruise and stay option. If your cruise leaves from a port of interest, then why not add a few extra days by arriving at your destination city early, or enjoying your ship’s port city after your cruise? This holiday extension allows you the best of both worlds.  

Be daring and adventurous this season by exploring the exotic lands of the Arab world. Cruise and stay to Dubai is quickly becoming a destination package of choice. It is ideal for those who want to explore the depths of a different culture as well as take on a cruise that is diverse and more unusual than the traditional sun and beach excursions.  

Rated as one of the world’s most exciting destinations, Dubai is the place where holidaymakers can have it all. Enjoy sun-drenched beaches, spectacular shopping opportunities, ancient landmarks and modern cuisine. Add to your experience; visit Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates with the stay portion of your holiday, and you can quickly begin to see why this holiday option is unlike any other.  

Adding additional nights to stay in this captivating country is the best way to soak up Dubai first hand. Many cruise passengers prefer to stay just outside the city, in an Emirate called Raz Al Khaimah. When staying in Dubai, be sure to book additional time to take in a day on one of their world-class golf courses.  

This fascinating place is bursting with modern skyscrapers mixed with traditional Middle Eastern architecture. These amazing contrasts are one of the things that make Dubai so interesting. Head out to see The Palm Jumeirah, which was built on an artificial island along with the Burg al Arab, which towers more than 300 metres above the water. 

Australia is one of the largest countries in the world, and if you have been thinking about spending your holidays in the land down under, there are plenty of travel deals that will not break the bank.

Sydney is the capital of New South Wales and has everything that you need to relax and enjoy yourself.  Take a tour of the Opera House and wander over to Circular Quay where you can catch a ferry over to the beachside suburb of Manly or take a water taxi and spend some time in Bondi, which is one of the most famous beaches in the country.  Visit an authentic Aussie pub and talk with the locals as you down an icy cold pint.

You cannot go to Australia without visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  Hire a car drive north and stop in Byron Bay to see where the colonists first planted their flag. Take advantage of the opportunity to go skydiving or see the vast coastline from a hot air balloon.  If you prefer to stay on land, take a nature walk, or spend some time at the Crystal Castle where you can get in touch with your mind, body and spirit.  Jump back in the car and reach your final destination where you can take a glass bottom boat and explore the Great Barrier Reef.   

Before you book your tickets decide where you want to visit.  Australia is a big country, and if you only have a few weeks, you will want to see as much as you can.

Visiting London is the trip of a lifetime for many people.  The history, culture, and tourist destinations within the city are some of the finest in the world.  People come from all over to visit the theatres, the museums, and historical sites of London.  To make a trip memorable and enjoyable, choosing a suitable hotel is essential.

There are many things to consider when selecting a place to stay in London.  Visitors can choose from bed and breakfasts, London hostels, and more traditional hotels.  The choice will likely depend upon the traveller’s budget, lifestyle, and desired location within the city.

Central London is one of the most popular places to stay for the purpose of visiting tourist attractions.  Many of the sites people hope to see are within the centre of the city.  Kings Cross hotels are an excellent choice for this reason.
 
The King’s Cross district of London has undergone regeneration over the last 20 years and is now a wonderful place for travellers to stay.  The tube station here is a large one and is one of the primary stops for the National Rail service as well.  Visitors who want the convenience of being able to quickly get anywhere in the city or the country, would do well to stay in King’s Cross.

In addition to travel convenience, the King’s Cross area offers several tourist stops.  Travellers here will want to visit the rare books collection at the British Library, tour the Camley Street Natural Park, and experience the history of St. Pancras Old Church.  For those who are fans of Harry Potter, King’s Cross station is the location of the famous platform 9 ¾.  There is a sign for this fictional platform that fans of the books love to see.

Many visitors to the French capital give hotels a miss and opt to rent an apartment in Paris instead.  Choosing this type of accommodation provides the traveller with a truer sense of the city’s unique atmosphere, and can also help save money in the bargain.

Tracking down apartments that offer short-term leases is fairly easy to do, and there are a number of websites which can be used.  Most of these sites allow the user to input information to narrow their search and stipulate things such as preferred dates, the number of rooms, the location in the city, and so on.

The latter is one of the most important considerations.  Do you want a central location, close to the heart of the city and the major tourist attractions (where rents are higher), or would you rather soak up the Gallic atmosphere in a quieter and less expensive suburb?  Whatever you are looking for, you will find it available.

Hire apartments come in many shapes and sizes, from simple studio flats to larger four-bedroom apartments suitable for families or groups of friends.  While one and two-week rentals are widely available, longer term rentals can also be arranged which allows travellers to truly get a sense of living like a Parisian.

Australia is the dream travel destination of many people.  It is vast, on a scale that is hard to describe.  The feeling of seemingly never-ending space when driving through the red centre is almost unbelievable.

Australia has every conceivable landscape – mountains, deserts, incredible surfing beaches, rainforests, coral reefs, mighty urban areas, huge natural harbours, vineyards, valleys and rivers – and the list is not exhaustive.  In tropical Queensland, the rainforest actually meets the reef, a unique natural phenomenon.

It is home to many iconic, indigenous and unique animals, and the only place in the world where marsupial mammals evolved.  The mighty kangaroo is ever present on most roadsides, bounding through the bush, particularly through the centre of the country, while you may have to look closer for its sleepier tree-dwelling cousin, the koala.  The mighty crocodile has gone through a renaissance period through extensive conservation work, and populations are blossoming, particularly in the north of the country.  A visit to a crocodile farm to see these mighty creatures is well worth it.

It is impossible to write about Australia without evoking images of the mighty Uluru, the original indigenous name for Ayers Rock.  This sacred Aboriginal site commands enormous respect, and will literally take your breath away if you are lucky enough to watch the sun rise over the crest of the great red rock.  It is a beautiful and magnificent work of nature, and is a fitting symbol and analogy for Australia itself.

Germany’s fourth largest city is both modern and historic; it is culturally distinct and inviting to outsiders.  The natives of Cologne speak their own dialect of German called Kölle and are very proud of their culture and heritage. 

History

The earliest settlement at Cologne was a Germanic village that dates back to 38 B.C.  Not long after that Cologne became a Roman town, and by the Middle Ages Cologne was an important religious and political centre.  Cologne Cathedral, which was built between the years 1248 to 1880, is a stunning architectural gem.  The cathedral, or Dom, is protected by UNESCO and has the largest façade and second tallest spires of any church in the world.

Museums

Cologne has several worthwhile museums which include the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, which features art work from the Medieval period to the early 20th century, and the Museum Ludwig, which features a large modern art collection and rotating exhibits.  For history lovers, the Römisch-Germanisches Museum displays artefacts from the city’s Roman era.  No one should miss the Schokoladen Museum, which is completely devoted to chocolate.

Dining and Entertainment

Visitors wanting to sample authentic Köllsche food will find it rustic and traditional; this cuisine is heavy on pork, potatoes, bread, and cheese. 

In February, visitors can enjoy the Winter Carnival.  Additionally, Germany’s largest gay pride festival is held in Cologne every summer.  Year round, tourists can visit the local zoo, the Cologne Aquarium, or take a ride on the aerial tram.

Historic and cosmopolitan, Cologne is a worthwhile destination for anyone touring Germany.

Taking a trip to London can be an amazing experience.  The city is a vibrant and exciting place with history, art, culture, theatre, and fine dining.  To have the best holiday possible, it is essential to make the right choice when it comes to lodging.

The traditional option is to stay in a hotel and London has plenty of those.  Hotels can range from very expensive to only moderately expensive and may be chains or individual businesses.  Many hotels can offer a range of services, such as room service, a concierge and others.

A different choice is to stay at a London bed and breakfast.  A bed and breakfast is usually less expensive than a hotel depending upon the location.  What a bed and breakfast can offer that most hotels cannot is a more personalised and friendly experience.  Bed and breakfasts are small and allow visitors the opportunity to get to know other travellers as well as their hosts.  The owners of the bed and breakfast are usually willing to take time to talk to and visit with their customers.  Their knowledge of the city can be immensely helpful to the traveller.

When the howling wind, low temperatures and constant chilly rain are getting you down, a warm sunny holiday is the perfect remedy for the winter blues. Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, is one of the closest places to the UK where real winter sun and warmth can be found. Average temperatures are around 21oC during the winter months and it can be a truly peaceful, beautiful place to visit, though can become rather crowded during school holidays.

The fantastic mountainous landscape of the island seems almost otherworldly, in fact Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, once described it as being the closest he had seen to that of the moon. Golden sandy beaches stretch out for miles along the shore, accompanied in places, by volcanic beaches of attractive black sand. Thanks to the great weather throughout the year, the beaches host a variety of water activities, from swimming and surfing to scuba diving, jet skiing or dolphin watching cruises.

With a year-round tourist population, towns and villages of Tenerife offer great nightlife and restaurants, bars and clubs, to suit every taste, line the streets. Golf courses dot the island, and many package holidays to Tenerife include green fees and equipment rental. Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital, has markets, great views and wonderful beaches.

A day trip to the fantastic Loro Parque is sure to delight all the family; a mixture of botanical gardens, Parrot Park, zoo and aquarium, the park has something for everyone. Take the cable car up Spain’s highest mountain and volcano, Mount Teide, to view the breathtaking sights. The Teide National Park features a fabulous number of animals and plant life that is guaranteed to delight.

British Columbia’s mountain views are breath taking, and the mountains offer world class skiing opportunities.  Whistler Blackcomb has more than just winter activities for its visitors; it offers restaurants, summer fun and a relaxing mountain atmosphere, perfect for any season’s holiday.

Mountain Activities at Whistler Blackcomb

When visitors think of Whistler Blackcomb, the home of the alpine events during the 2010 Winter Olympics, they think of skiing and snowboarding.  Whistler also offers glacier skiing and riding, hiking along mountain trails and Peak to Peak chair lift sightseeing rides.  After a long day of hiking or skiing, visitors can visit a number of world renowned restaurants while taking in the view of the mountains and village. 

Summer Activities

Whistler Blackcomb is not just for winter activities.  During the summer months adventure seekers can hike, ATV ride, take a zip line ride or sightsee along trails on both mountains.  Guests can take a gondola ride to the summit of the mountains, go on a bear viewing tour or walk on a glacier.  For sports minded individuals, mountain biking and mini golf round off a day in the mountains.  Rafting and a slide down the mountain are also fun activities. 

Winter Activities

Aside from skiing and snowboarding, visitors can snowmobile, ride a zip line, powder mountain cat ski and slide down the mountain in a tube.  For families, Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre, sleigh rides and snowshoeing are great activities.

When it comes to famous train journeys, a few names spring to mind including the Trans-Siberian Express and the Orient Express.  The UK also has one of the best, the Caledonian Sleeper.  Travelling overnight between Euston Station in London and a variety of destinations in Scotland and North West England, it’s a great way to travel and arrive fresh the next morning.  The journey to Fort William in Scotland is particularly popular with holidaymakers.

Operated by ScotRail and running six nights a week with no service on a Saturday, the Caledonian Sleeper offers a range of sleeping options including single berths (first class), twin berths with upper and lower bunks, and seated sleeper with individual reclining seats.  The trains are all air-conditioned, and the berths include full bedding and washing facilities.  The lounge car offers snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages, while other services include luggage and cycle storage.  Many of the stations also have special lounges for travellers on the Caledonian Sleeper.

The Caledonian Sleeper may not be the most luxurious service and might feel a little like stepping back in time, but that’s all part of its distinctive charm.  Early risers on the northbound service will also be able to catch some fabulous views of the Scottish countryside as they approach their destination.  Fares vary according to destination, time of year and advance booking, but twin berths to Fort William can be as low as £60 per person one way.  Special offers with substantial discounts are also available online through the ScotRail website.