Northern Cyprus
29. July 2009
Sammy
It is definitely worth going to Northern Cyprus for your next relaxing break if you are looking for a quiet, relaxing getaway where you can really throw yourself into the feel of the place. A friend recently went to Northern Cyprus for exactly this purpose; however she was quite shocked to find they had to land in Turkey briefly and take off again before finally arriving! Apparently there is a law that states no plane can go directly to Northern Cyprus so bear it in mind not to get off in Turkey if you have booked your hotel in Northern Cyprus! For a true feel of the island, hire a villa and a car and explore the local villages and hills. Take a trip to one of the beaches which are mostly full of pebbles, however you can find a sandy beach if you really try. The island seems to be how Spain was 40 years ago, unspoilt and untouched, however you can see various developments starting to spring up across the island to try and attract tourist business. Try this holiday if you are fed up of inflatable pool toys, screaming children and partying 18 year olds. The local people are very friendly, it is extremely hot a lot of the time, the locals are very big on using lamb for cooking and it is very cheap to purchase everything you may need. If this sounds like your cup of tea then go for it, you won’t be disappointed.
Turkey | 0 Kommentare »
Majorca - Paguera
28. July 2009
Tom
If you are thinking of a gorgeous beach holiday this summer, or even a winter getaway to escape the hideous English weather, try Paguera on the South coast of Majorca for sun, sea, sand and cocktails! Paguera, originally a small fishing village, has been transformed into a lovely and uncomplicated beach getaway where you can relax and top up your tan, or alternatively have an exciting time exploring the coast and the nearby towns for a true feel of the location. Just 40 minutes on the bus to Palma, where you can visit Palma Cathedral for a taste of Spanish culture. Palma port is an exciting hub of activity with various yachts filling the sea, gorgeous buildings scattered across the shoreline and a grand wooded hill in the background. Don’t be surprised if you meet various living statues in Palma who will always be happy to be photographed with you. The shops are worth a visit, and you should always make sure you sample the local delicacies in one of the many restaurants on the shorefront. When you get back to Paguera, why not take a day trip out on a pedalo to experience the gorgeous coast and try snorkelling to meet the friendly fish who are well accustomed to tourists. All in all, Paguera is a magical destination with a good mix of relaxation and partying, fit for all tastes.
Spain | 0 Kommentare »
Dublin- spire and bridges
27. July 2009
Daniel
Dublin is a great place to go for a short city break. If you fly from Manchester it takes less than an hour and if that’s not your cup of tea you can take a ferry from Liverpool to Dublin and be there in about 8 hours. Now Dublin is very popular with stag and hen parties for its nightlife, however it is quite expensive. Your average glass of wine will be about five of your English pounds and a pint is about £4. So you will need quite a lot of cash to spend. Dublin is packed full of things to do for everyone’s taste. The Guinness factory is a popular day trip, and if that’s for you, you may enjoy a trip to the Jameston distillery. For those that enjoy more of a cultural and historical trip, the Dublin castle and Christ Church Cathedral are magnificent, and a trip to the abbey theatre is well worth planning. Main views in Dublin city centre include the Spire of Dublin which is located on O’Connell Street and the River Liffey with the various bridges, including the Ha’penny Bridge the millennium bridge and the O’Connell bridge. It is advised to be on one of the bridges at dusk as this is an extremely beautiful sight. A picture perfect moment!
Ireland | 0 Kommentare »
Dubrovnik - Walled city
22. July 2009
Sammy
Dubrovnik is based right at the furthest South point of Croatia on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located on the beautiful Adriatic coast and there are clear blue seas as far as you can see, fresh air and medieval walled old city that was badly bombed in the early 1990’s in the civil war between Yugoslavia and Bosnia /Slovenia. Since then, the city has been restructured in a traditional manner with new terracotta tiles and re-built stone walls. The main walkway is described as so old and walked on, it is like walking on polished marble so it is advisable not to wear high heels when walking on it! There is usually just 1mm of rain in July and the highest temperature in July is 32o. Apparently there are lots of electrical storms in the mountains close to the city and it is usually humid in the July evenings, but it is very unusual to get rain. If you go, try to go in the summer for the Dubrovnik Summer Festival where there are many attractions including theatrical performances, music and dance shows in the beautiful culture packed surroundings. The Sponza Palace is home to the Summer Festival and is a sight unto its own, especially as it survived the earthquake of 1667 which shook the city! Definitely worth a visit!
Croatia | 0 Kommentare »
Home or away?
17. July 2009
Tom
So where are you going on your holiday this year? As you all know the recession is still on everyone’s lips, although it is not getting better, it does seem that it’s now not getting worse! Hopefully we will be coming out of it going forward and we will be much better off. Until that time comes, most people I have spoken to are either taking very cheap flights, staying in cheap hotels and battling cockroaches in the vain attempt to get a quick tan, or alternatively they are staying in the UK, battling the threat of rain and exploring parts of the country that they never knew existed. It’s worth thinking about though, because of the shocking exchange rate we are getting, if we do decide to stay at home, will we have to compete with foreign tourists visiting the UK for good service, hotel booking and seats on tour buses? It’s a safe assumption due to the fact they are getting more for their money if they come to us. I would expect this kind of reverse situation; instead of people from the UK flying off to warmer climates we will decide to holiday at home. At the same time we’re likely to get a higher influx of tourists, and therefore we may have to wait longer at Alton Towers to get onto the Nemesis!
UK | 0 Kommentare »
Why fly?! Stay at home this summer!
10. July 2009
Daniel
So it’s a recession and there’s not much money or time available for you to spend getting away this year. Although there are a lot of cheap flights around at the moment consider staying at home in the UK for your holiday this year, as you can pick up some very cheap train tickets and bargains if you sign up to chain hotel sites such as Travelodge who regularly send out offers to their members. Try London for some good old fashioned patriotism! Go and see the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, Madame Tussauds, Tower Bridge, Bond Street and the huge Topshop on Oxford Street! Or if the hustle and bustle is not your idea of a holiday, try York and see the Jorvic centre to learn about Viking history, take a trip to York minster, go look around the railway museum and visit The Shambles- a really classy ‘step back in time’ shopping arcade with cobbled streets and classic shops. Or alternatively try a country break and visit one of the little towns in the Peak District for a laid back, quaint and traditional holiday. Go to Buxton and sample their water straight from the well or visit Bakewell and try one of their famous Bakewell Tarts!
UK | 0 Kommentare »
Prague - city for lovers
1. July 2009
Sammy
Prague is well known as a good destination for stag and hen do’s because it is cheap and has a fantastic nightlife. I always knew this, and when I was thinking of a destination for a short break with my boyfriend last year it was not the first place to occur in my thoughts. However after investigating this a bit further I discovered that if you look deeper, Prague is the most beautiful, cultural, romantic and amazing place you will ever visit. If you go with the right person that is! It was sold to me by a travel agent, and I went away and booked it online for half the price (shh!). The deal we got cost us just under £160 each and we got flights, taxis to and from the airport, and 3 nights in a 4 star hotel close to the National Museum, which was a 10 minute walk to the centre of town through the most beautiful streets you can imagine! I am very into these quaint streets and architecturally stunning buildings and if this is something that interests you, please consider Prague for your next getaway. Whilst we were there last February there was a European market on one of the back streets off the main shopping street which was selling various treats and kooky items. If you go and come across something you really like, make sure you look in a few of the touristy shops around town as you might be able to get a better price. Top tips for Prague- Go with your partner as this city has a magical quality that makes people fall in love, go to the castle, visit the museum, walk along Wenceslas Square and get to the Astronomical Clock in the old town square at a few minutes to the hour in order to see it chime. It is definitely worth it!
Czechoslovakia | 0 Kommentare »
Hot Air Balloon Rides
1. June 2009
Sammy
Hot air balloon rides are definately the way forward to marvel from a birds eye pint of view at the English countryside. The quiet serenity and exciting thrill that can be experienced from a ride like this can be bought from many venues all over the country. They will offer you the highest ride of your life and you’ll see all sorts of things - farms, houses, and different landmarks that are normally hidden right out of view when on the ground!
But why would you buy a balloon ride of all things? Well, you’ll always come across an occasion at some point where you want to buy something a little bit different. Be it a special birthday, a wedding anniversay or even, for the romantics out there, what a great way to propose to your partner, whilst sharing champagne to make it an experience you’ll never forget. You’ll certanly have memories to treasure for ever.
By purchasing this idea as a gift or even if it’s something for yourself, you’ll probably end up visiting another part of the UK which isn’t local to yourself. This is when you can turn it into a nice relaxing weekend away and stay over in a bed and breakfast or a hotel.
UK | 0 Kommentare »
Weekend away walking in the Lakes.
1. June 2009
Sammy
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on what makes a good weekend away, but for me, I can’t get enough of the Lake District. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE shopping and eating out and drinking in trendy new bars. The excitement you feel when stepping into your new outfit specially purchased and then you hit the highlife of a new city, dancing until the early hours of the morning - hungover and tired and returning home having spent a fortune and not relaxed at all!
A weekend away in The Lakes, in my opinion, is the best get away you can get as you may as well be a million miles away. The breathtaking views, the sound of birds twittering and sheep bleeting and the overall silence of the countryside all just seem to chill be right down and so I forget the everyday frantics of a typical working week.
One of my favourite walks has to be Helvellyn via striding edge. The scramble up striding edge can be quite treacherous if climbed and scrambled in bad weather. The cloud can appear and disappear very quickly so you have to be prepared for all sort of whether. But done on a very clear day the views are amazing and so worth all the tears shed and the sweat dripped! Just be careful that you are carrying all the correct equipment so there’s no need for you to call on the air ambulance to rescue you because of your carelessness of not being prepared for the weather!
Netherlands, UK | 0 Kommentare »
Galapagos Islands
29. May 2009
Sammy
Dream no longer, the perfect place for escaping the rat race of everyday life is only a flight away! It’s paradise without a doubt and only after a few minutes all your worries will drift away.
At a glance you’d think that these islands which sit about 650 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean were desolate but on further inspection the rough and rocky isles are home to wonderfully weird and abundant wildlife. From giant tortoises which meander along, marine iguanas stretching out and sunning themselves on the black lava rocks along the shore. You can watch as the penguins dart swiftly through the waters and graceful red-billed tropicbirds squawk through the cloudless skies.
When exploring these remarkable islands you’ll also be able to inch past lazy sea lions, look out to sea for whales and play spot the pink flamingos amongst the many hidden lagoons. What better way to enjoy all these wonderful creatures other than in their natural habitat and surroundings.
Thousands of people visit and eexplore Galapagos every year but don’t forget that they’re only a very tiny part of South America and that there is much more to see and do! To get the best out of your holiday and visit as many amazing places as your time will allow book your Galapagos Tours right now!
Netherlands | 0 Kommentare »