Category Archives: Travel Guides

What to Expect From 2012 Skiing Holidays

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For ski holidays, 2012 promises to be an action packed year with limitless possibilities. Resorts will be going all out to ensure that you have the experience of a lifetime. With many offering cheap ski deals and all-inclusive packages, it will not be hard to find the right location no matter what your requirements.

With the official start to ski season just a few short months away there is no better time to start planning your trip and looking for a cheap ski deal.

If you are a die hard snow junkie and can not wait, then you can head to Argentina, Chile, Australia or New Zealand where the southern hemisphere season is in full swing. Snow will be fresh and powdery from now up until November. 

For some rewarding glacier skiing in November look to France, Austria and Switzerland. Glacier skiing comes with the promise of long slopes and powder. The outlook for pre-season snow conditions this year is good. 

The season officially starts in December and you can add the lower resorts in Italy, Finland, Czech Republic, USA and Canada to that list.

So if you’re looking at ski holidays 2012 and, depending on where you go, 2011 holds endless possibilities regardless of your schedule, location and budget. Booking early is always the best way to ensure that you will secure your place on the slopes and avoid disappointment. 

Top Restaurants to Sample in Grenada

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The beautiful island of Grenada is known for its peppery and flavourful cuisine is nicknamed the Isle of Spices for its use of spice, pepper and nutmeg in its succulent dishes.   When on Grenada holidays, be sure to stop at some of the island’s finest restaurants to sample twists on local specialties.  Among the best to try are:

Restaurant Vastra Banken

An elegant fine dining restaurant that serves guests on an historic lighthouse ship, this restaurant specializes in Caribbean and international cuisine.  Overlooking the sea and the lush forest, this location is a tourist favourite.

La Luna

Situated directly on an enticing stretch of sand, this romantic restaurant earned itself a spot on Conde Nast’s Top 100 Tables in the world list.  This restaurant offers an artistic fusion of Italian dishes with Caribbean cooking methods and ingredients.

Rhodes Restaurant

The pride of the Calabash hotel is known as one of the best and luxurious locations to dine on the island of Grenada.  Recipes are drawn from locally available produce and ingredients and prepared by top chefs.

Oliver’s Restaurant

This beachside restaurant is a tourist favourite.  Expect fine international and Creole cuisine and eat sumptuous meals to the beat of calypso and steel band.

Fun things to do on a Royal Caribbean ship

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Cheap cruises are always very popular for going to different tropical island beaches and lounging around in the sun with a book on the golden sand, or even just lounging around on board the ship. But this can get boring for some people, especially kids.

Royal Caribbean is especially famous for its incredible onboard entertainment for kids of all ages from young primary school kids on up to teenagers, and even very active adults. There are game shows and fun things planned throughout the day every day. Best of all on a Royal Caribbean cruise is the ship’s features themselves. Some of the ships have things like the amazing FlowRider, which is basically a standing wave right on the ship where kids or adults can take their turns trying to stay standing on a surfboard. There is also an ice rink on the ship. That’s right, a real ice rink. Not only is it a lot of fun to go ice skating in the middle of the ocean, but by night it turns into the venue for some truly amazing ice shows by the ship’s entertainers.

There are karaoke booths where you can have a great time with your friends or family or even record a DVD of your singing that you can take home with you. There are full size basketball courts and even a rock climbing wall. And of course swimming pools and hot tubs, gyms, saunas, and plenty of stuff to keep everyone very entertained and happy, even the kids.

Tips on Taking a Cruise Holiday

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When winter takes hold, people begin to think back to warm summer days.  Join the millions of travellers who seek winter refuge by taking a cruise.  Not only is a cruise an exciting way to shake off the winter blues, it is also a very cost effective way to enjoy sunshine during the colder months. 

For as little as a few hundred pounds you can easily be on your way to an exotic destination or Caribbean island of your choice.  These excellent deals can be found with a quick search on the internet or by speaking with your local travel agent.

There are a few matters to keep in mind when choosing a cruise.  A cruise can last anywhere from a few nights to a few weeks depending on the chosen destination.  If this is your first time taking a cruise, book a shorter trip.  A three-day cruise is a great way to sample what cruising is all about.  If you enjoy it, book another cruise for a longer duration of time.  Cruise deals can be picked up on a daily basis.

Do not be shy when it comes to participating in on-ship activities.  There are endless entertainment options, from lavish Broadway shows, to games for children.  Off-ship, take part in some of the exciting excursions your cruise company has to offer.  There is no better way to enjoy a new town or city than a day of first-hand exploring.

The Advantages of a Holiday Cruising Europe

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When you think of going on a cruise holiday, the idea of exotic islands and far off lands may well be the first thing that comes to mind.  There are, however, many incredible options available closer to home and a lot of people find that going on cruises from the UK can make for an unforgettable trip. 

One of the biggest selling points of last minute cruises is the sheer variety that can be experienced in a relatively short space of time.  Going for a week or fortnight long trip around Scandinavia, Spain and France, or the Mediterranean, allows you to see a wide range of culture, beaches and incredible natural surroundings, as there are only short distances between each port.

Not having to travel a long distance to the departure port can be another major benefit.  A long flight to a far off destination can cause jet lag and tiredness for the first few days of a cruise, but if you embark in the UK then you will be able to enjoy your entire holiday.  You may also find that it reduces your costs considerably, as travelling to a British port is likely to be much cheaper and easier than an international journey. 

Going on cruises from the UK to European destinations also means that you do not have to worry about luggage restrictions or weight limits when you are packing.  As there is no need to fly to your initial departure port or stay in hotel before you leave, you can pack whatever you like and will only have to unpack once during your entire holiday. 

Undiscovered London

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You may have visited the main tourist attractions of London – Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, etc. – but there are many other interesting spots in the UK’s capital that many tourists miss.

For example, Cannon Street, one of the longest streets in the city, is home to the ancient London Stone.  A relic of uncertain origin, it has been variously rumoured to be the site of Druidic sacrifices, an Anglo-Saxon ceremonial stone, or the point from which the Romans measured distances.  In 1328, Edward III used it as a central marker for his edict that Londoners would have the right to hold markets within a 7-mile radius of it.

Also, in the City, the artist Dennis Severs’ house at 18 Folgate Street is a fascinating recreation of the house of a Huguenot silk weaver and his family, where visitors can wander through 10 rooms of “still-life drama”.

Families will enjoy Coram’s Fields, a seven acre playground and park that includes a city farm.  No adult can enter without a child, making it a safe haven for families after a walk around the hidden city.

Diving Holidays in Western Australia

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The western coast of Australia is a popular region for diving holidays, with the Ningaloo Reef a favourite destination for many tourists interested in an undersea adventure abroad.  The Ningaloo Reef, unlike many similar tropical reefs, is located close to the shoreline, making it possible to start a dive at the beach and swimming out to deeper water.  There is no need to charter a boat as one must for many reef diving experiences elsewhere.

Once at the reef, tourists on holiday can see a stunning variety of reef fish species – more than 400, in fact.  In addition, the vegetation on the reef is highly varied, as is the coral itself, with many different colours glowing like jewels under the water.  From Shark Bay to Cape Range, the Ningaloo Reef provides a diving experience to rival any on earth. 

The best time of year for tourists to go to Ningaloo is from May to February.  The reef is located about 1200 kilometres to the north of the Australian city of Perth and is itself more than 250 kilometres long.  The largest ‘fringing’ coral reef found in Australian waters, Ningaloo is also the only large reef situated so close to the shore.

Whale sharks can be seen feeding near Ningaloo from time to time, a fact that helped spur the establishment of the Ningaloo Marine Park in the 1980s. Since 2011, the area around Ningaloo Reef has also been listed as a U.N. World Heritage Site.

How to get the best Cruise Deals

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It is that time of year again when people begin to look for cruise deals. Whether your need for a cruise is a personal getaway, a family vacation, or a traditional holiday, the available cruise options are almost endless.  

A good place to start may be with your travel agent. Travel agents are usually informed of deals and specials that may not be publicly advertised. Speaking with a travel agent face-to-face is also the best way to get any questions that you may have, answered properly. Not all travel agents offer the same prices so if you are serious about getting a good deal, then shop around between travel agents. There are times when the larger companies will be able to pass along better cruise deals than a smaller travel agency.  

While you are visiting your travel agent, collect a few brochures and see what catches your eye. These brochures are a great way to get a feel for the different cruise companies as well as what they have to offer in the way of packages, entertainment, itineraries, prices and other options. There are more and more websites each month dedicated to ensuring you get the best deal when it comes to booking your holiday. If you are not comfortable booking online then use the sites as guidelines for any deals that may be available. You can take this information with you to your travel agent.  

If you are completely open to going any place as long as you get a good deal, then leave your holiday fate in the hands of the tourist season. Traditionally the months of January to March are the busiest for the cruise industry. This can often be the best time to try and land a great deal. 

Welcome to Wilderness – Antartica

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Antarctica is probably the last place on earth anyone outside of the scientific community would consider as a place to visit.  Believe it or not Antarctica, the continent where weather not time dictates the itinerary, has a thriving tourist industry.

A visit to Antarctica is not for the faint hearted.  The inbound journey is difficult and expensive.  The reward is a vast snowscape that has challenged adventurers across time and an abundance of wildlife that will hardly bat an eyelid at well behaved visitors.

The “Spirit of Shackleton”, is a 20-day trip that invites visitors to live the story, with two days to explore The Falkland Islands and a day in South Georgia.  Visitors will experience the might of the Southern Ocean before reaching the frozen continent itself and Shackleton’s final resting place.  With daily lectures that illuminate the history of his exploration and those who followed him, daily shore landings, cruises to Penguin colonies, full board and comfortable cabins, The Spirit of Shackleton is an expedition is worthy of any intrepid explorer.

Visitors don’t come to Antarctica during winter (UK summer), where it is round the clock darkness with temperatures averaging -50 degrees Celsius.  Visitor season runs from November to March.  In December and January, penguins hatch their eggs and care for their young.  Whale watching is best in February and March, when there is around 20-hours of daylight and penguin chicks grow more playful.  The longer into the season you wait, the less crowded the cruises will be. However, the wildlife of this region doesn’t hang around and by late March, they’re starting to head out to sea.

What to pack? Well, specialist warm weather clothing and plenty of thermals.  Some tour providers include water proof boots while aboard ship, while others require you to bring your own.

Cruise and Stay Holidays – a great experience!

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In a nutshell, a cruise and stay holiday combines the flexibility of a cruise with the familiarity of a one-stop destination.  If you or your partner have never tried cruising before and are a little unsure as to what to expect, then a cruise and stay holiday is perfect for you.  The usual length of a cruise and stay holiday is seven days on board and seven days at your hotel, but the cruise and stay holiday is nothing if not flexible, so you can lengthen your stay on either the ship or the hotel – or both if you prefer.  The cruise and stay holiday puts you in control and you can spend time doing just what you enjoy.

Of course, cruising gives you the opportunity to see many more places and it may surprise you to discover how much there is to do on board the ship itself. In addition to the desk games and swimming pools there are also sport and gym activities, spa treatments and daily workshops. On offer is a range of fascinating activities you have always wanted to try – everything from tai chi to scuba diving – and the range of children’s activities and crèche facilities are second to none. With a shopping mall, theatre and shows, bars and restaurants, the cruise ship’s facilities and entertainment can rival that of any 5-star hotel. 

For those who enjoy holidays on land and at sea, the cruise and stay is the perfect way to experience the ultimate holiday. Enjoy cruising for the first seven days and then spend seven days in a luxury hotel or, if you prefer, hit the hotel first and then cruise.  Check out great 2012 cruise and stay deals now.