Your Travel City Guide

When you think a cruise holiday you may be more inclined to think of tropical islands, the Caribbean and the glorious sunshine. But remember that these are not the only available cruise options available for consideration. Cruises can also be taken to areas with cooler climates, such as Alaska. In fact, you can even take a cruise to Antarctica.

Now, that may not be overly appealing to you, but you should stop and consider the value such a cruise could have for you. It would be a unique experience that more than likely would only happen once in a lifetime. You could travel to the seventh continent in the world — a place that usually only scientists would venture to.

Instead of a shore excursion to the Grand Caymans to see Stingray City, you could take a boat to the first scientific base in Antarctica. You could relive the adventures of Shackleton. You could see penguins and sea lions and obtain firsthand knowledge of the marvels and wonders that scientists are discovering on this frozen land mass.

How many people do you know have been on a cruise? When they share their stories, how often to you tune out due to the fact that essentially it is the same boring story you heard from the last friend that went on a cruise? Now, if they had been to Antarctica, how would you react to their vacation tales?

If you are looking to get away from it all and remove yourself from the stresses and pressure of modern life, then a peaceful break by renting a cottage in England’s lovely countryside is the perfect solution. Some of the country’s most spectacular, scenic beauty can be enjoyed during a holiday in Cornwall.

Its rugged coastline and moorland landscapes make Cornwall an idyllic location for a long-weekend of tranquil relaxation, especially if you rent a gorgeous stone built, thatched cottage, or a seaside house of the type typically found in the county. These wonderfully preserved buildings are romantic destinations that are fully equipped for self-catering visitors and are often located in picturesque and sometimes out of the way places.

Many traditional holiday cottages in Cornwall have been converted for holiday rentals. These houses, once lived in by farming families and fishermen, now offer accommodation for the throngs of tourists that annually flock to the southwest of England.

Cornwall is well known for its beautiful beaches, great surfing, tales of smugglers, Arthurian legends and its very pretty fishing villages, so tourists in the area will never be short of things to see and do. From the new age experience of the Eden Valley Project to the quaint village of St Austell, Land’s End, with its windswept views across the Atlantic or magical old Tintagel Castle; the choice of places to visit is varied and limited only by the duration of your vacation.

Countryside cottages in England and especially in Cornwall, provide a great opportunity to relax and take it easy for a few days, or on an annual family holiday.

Spain is the perfect holiday destination for those looking for a location that offers plenty of sun, sea, sand and places to explore. Known for its thriving tourist industry, Spain is one of the most popular holiday locations in the world. Millions of people visit the country every year to explore Spanish culture and relax on the beautiful beaches.

For those looking for plenty of interesting places to visit there are a wide variety of medieval towns and castles in the country. Toledo, which is located in central Spain, offers plenty of culture and has many fascinating historic attractions to explore. The city is home to the Puerta De Bisagra, a city gate that was built in the 10th century. Also located in the city is the Cathedral of Toledo, a 13th century High Gothic cathedral that is worth a visit for those wishing to explore Spain’s Gothic culture.

In addition to Toledo, Spain also offers over 500 other towns and cities to explore, including Barcelona, which has over 250 attractions and a thriving nightlife and Madrid, where you can take a variety of tours and relax in the city’s cafes and bars.
 
Spain is not short of places to eat and offers a wide variety of restaurants where you can sample the Spanish cuisine. For those wishing for a light snack, there are plenty of bars that serve appetizers, which are known locally as tapas. For those wishing to stick to food that they are familiar with, Spain offers a string of popular fast food restaurants, including Burger King and McDonalds. However, it is important to note that these can only be found in the larger cities in Spain rather than in smaller towns.

Due to Spain being a popular location, you are sure to find a number of package deals for many of the country’s hotels. Spain offers accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, including a variety of hostels for younger travellers.

With plenty of culture, beaches and a thriving nightlife, Spain has something to suit all travellers.

France is the ideal place for anyone looking for a skiing holiday. With resorts on both the Alps and the Pyrenees there is bound to be the ideal spot for even the pickiest of holidaymakers.  For ski holidays France cannot be beaten – it has everything.

There are ski schools and fully trained instructors for the novice skier and small slopes for when they have built up their confidence a little; there are also many high altitude runs and off piste trails for the expert skier. There are even areas dedicated to snowboarders and tobogganing for those wanting something a little different.

Non-skiers can also enjoy a ski holiday with their loved ones, and activities such as hot air ballooning and archery are amongst the many experiences one can have while the rest of the group is out on the slopes.

Ski deals are easily found when searching the internet or using the teletext services available. For a family orientated ski holiday France can offer some of the most perfect resorts, or for those wanting something a little more upmarket resorts such as Chamonix, with its chic boutiques, ensure that every need can be catered for.

With the help of low budget airlines, skiing holidays in France are becoming more and more affordable and more and more popular. Once thought of as holidays for the elite, ski holidays are now something everyone can enjoy. With packages often including meals and ski passes for the lifts, there is no reason one needs to over spend once there.

If a Turkish holiday is in your future, why not consider booking villas in Turkey for the ultimate in style and comfort?

Turkey is a country rich in history and culture with plenty to see and do.  This holidaymakers’ paradise boasts sparkling coastlines, gorgeous beaches, beautiful mountains, a mild climate, and abundant sunshine.  There’s great shopping, fine dining, vibrant nightlife, and ancient landmarks to discover and explore.

Renting holiday villas in Turkey is a unique way to experience all the things this amazing country has to offer.  For less than the cost of a luxury hotel or seaside resort you can book a private villa, apartment, cottage, home, or townhouse far from the traditional holiday crowds.  Enjoy full kitchen facilities, furnished bedrooms and living spaces, and additional amenities like swimming pools, balconies, private terraces, and wireless internet access.  Every property is booked directly through the owner, so you can rest assured that you’re getting superior, top quality private lodgings at an excellent value.

Holiday villas in Turkey are suitable for any sized travelling party.  Book a posh penthouse suite for two on the Turquoise Coast or a spacious villa in Kusadasi that sleeps more than twenty.  Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway for that special someone or a family break for the whole lot, renting villas in Turkey is a truly one of a kind way to spend your next holiday.

Take real pleasure in your holiday or city break by booking private villas in Turkey.

The best way to see the many wonderful sights and cities of Europe is to fly. Cheap flights make European destinations much more accessible than they once were, and short breaks and city breaks are increasingly becoming the norm.

Weekends away with friends, hen and stag parties or a romantic break for two are more common than they once were with flights to Vienna and cities such as Prague often topping the list of favourite destinations.

Amsterdam, for example, is only an hour away from the UK, and low cost airlines offer the trip for bargain prices, sometimes just £20.00 one way. Saving all year for a family holiday can really take its toll, short breaks such as these help to recharge the batteries during the rest of the year, for very little money.

Children benefit from these breaks as much as adults do, and often cheap flights mean that a European city break is cheaper than holidaying in the United Kingdom. Opting to spend the school holidays this way means that the children can get to spend a small amount of time learning about other countries’ cultures and history, and as they are often so cheap, it is possible to have more than one trip away during the summer.

Taking cheap flights to Berlin, for example, can teach your child a lot about history. There is the possibility of visiting an old concentration camp, see the site of the now demolished Berlin Wall and see firsthand buildings that were once part of the Eastern Bloc. It is one way to make a history lesson more interesting.

The Kingsley Hotel is a highly rated four star hotel. The location could not be any better! The hotel is located in Bloomsbury near the very famous Covent Garden’s and Oxford Street, around 0.7 miles from the centre of London.

The hotel has six varieties of rooms available all with amenities such as: Wi-Fi, coffee and tea making facilities, Colour T.V, Direct dial telephone, Flat screen LCD with free view and a hairdryer. The hotel is easily accessible with underground and train stations nearby and a car park at close proximity.

The hotel also offers a 24 hour room service allowing you to be as relaxed and as comfortable as you would like. Many attractions near the hotel and therefore are easy to get to include: The London Eye, Hyde Park and The West End! There is something for each member of the family to try out and enjoy!

The hotel provides various offers created to help you save money and to make the holiday seem more affordable to you! One of the current offers includes a ‘Family Offer’ which is good as it mean the whole family can get involved it the fun!

In addition, this London hotel can be hired out for weddings and various other occasions…It’s the perfect location! As well as weddings and occasions, the hotel also has various business rooms available to hire out when needed, making the Kingsley perfect for both leisure and business! I would highly recommend this hotel, have a look!

The Caribbean often evokes images of exotic food, fabulous palm-fringed beaches, and vibrant music. As a general picture, this summary isn’t unfair – but the Caribbean is a big place, even if many of the islands are small. But if you need to make a choice for your Caribbean cruise, for truly exotic vistas, you simply can’t do better than the Southern Caribbean. These islands have rainforests and dramatic volcanoes as well as stunning beaches. Whether you choose to visit with a smaller operator like Star Clipper or Oceania, or go with the super-vessels run by giants like Royal Caribbean and Carnival, these islands will beguile you with their beauty and their culture at first sight.

Largely because of its distance from the US, the Southern Caribbean has traditionally been less visited than its Western and Eastern counterparts. But this is definitely beginning to change – people are starting to catch on to the magnificent beaches on islands like Aruba and Antigua, the jaw-dropping landscapes of islands like Guadeloupe, St Lucia and Martinique, and the spectacular snorkelling and scuba diving off islands like Curacao. Relatively undeveloped though it may be, Dominica’s breathtaking beauty has earned it the epithet ‘Garden of Eden’.

Today, most of the major players in the cruise holiday business offer Southern Caribbean cruises. Liners run by Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival will have numerous spectacular attractions on board, but the smaller companies (like Oceania, Star Clippers and Regent Seven Seas) take in the major ports of call of their bigger relations but add some truly mesmerising alternatives. You may never have heard of them, but ports of call at Tobago Cays, Mayreau Island, St Vincent and Bequia will show you the quiet, gorgeous charm of the ‘real’ Caribbean.

When most of us plan a holiday we take the traditional route of booking flights, car hire, and lodgings at a hotel or resort.  This places restrictions on travel that can leave you feeling stressed out and financially drained.  For a different kind of holiday, why not consider renting a private residence?

In France, holiday rentals are called “gites.”  These are private homes, apartments, townhouses and cottages that are offered for rental to holidaymakers by their owners.  You can find these holiday cottages just about anywhere in the country, from Provence to Paris.  Renting gites in France is a flexible, affordable way to experience the rich cultural and historic heritage of this great nation. 

Most gites in France are fully furnished with all the comforts of home.  You’ll find spacious living quarters, cosy bedrooms, kitchens, gardens, and more.  Some properties even boast additional amenities like private swimming pools and tennis courts, laundry facilities, saunas, wireless internet access, balconies, and equipment such as highchairs and cribs for those travelling with infants or small children.  Never spend another holiday in France cramped in a tiny hotel room or resort suite.

You can expect to spend anywhere from £100 to more than £20,000 for a week’s stay at gites in France.  The price, of course, depends on the type and size of property you want.  Single bedroom apartments, B&B rooms, studios, and small holiday cottages are the most affordable options for couples or small groups; large parties will benefit from splitting the cost of a large villa, mansion, or castle.

No matter what kind of getaway you have planned, make the most of it by renting gites in France.

Most of the hotels in London are currently involved in a race against time; with the 2012 Summer Olympics just around the corner, London is expected to see a major boost in tourism over the next year or two leading up to the Olympics.

According to the Tourism Council there were an estimated 70,000 mid-quality rooms in 2003 in the heart of central London, and the numbers are expected to triple by 2010 as more and more hotels compete for the budget traveller’s custom. The vast majority of cheap London hotels can be found in the suburbs surrounding central London, while the luxury hotels are mostly centred on the West End and Mayfair areas.

Interestingly enough, the most profitable hotels in the modern era are the ones located near the airports, rather than the ones located in the heart of the city itself. One would assume that tourism would see more travellers staying in the city, but the current economic crisis has put a damper on holidays for many people. This means that fewer individuals are travelling to the city to holiday or on business trips, with an increase in travellers on a short or overnight stay. 

Since 2007 there has been a boom in purpose built hotels ranging from 2 stars to 5 stars as the hotel industry ramps up for the 2012 Olympics, with 3 star hotel chains such as Ibis and Premier Travel Inn leading the pack in terms of productivity. There are a few five-star hotels being built, but the budget customers are where the money is and will be likely to be for some time.