How to choose holiday accommodation

It can sometimes be overwhelming when booking accommodation independant of a package holiday, mainly because there are just so many options. You head to a city such as London, Barcelona or Paris and they is just too much choice. Should  I stay in a hotel, B&B, short-term rental apartment or youth hostel?

My thoughts and advice is:

Hotels – Very good option if you are in the city for 1 or 2 nights. Quick and easy. Good site bookings.com

Youth Hostels – are actually becoming more and more popular and attracting the mid and older range of people.

Vacation apartments

Couples in their mid forties and fifties now also consider hostels for example. Facilities and standards are constantly being improved. If you want a budget trip then this is worth consideration especially for locations such as those in the countryside. hostels.com is a good starting point.

Holiday apartments – this is one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry and it is not hard to see why. Travellers are realising the benefits of having Wi-Fi, their own kitchen and lots of space whilst on holiday. This is gret for stays of 3 days plus. A company such as Holiday Velvet are on the leading suppliers of Vacation and Holiday apartments.

5 European beaches you must try

There is plenty of coastline in Europe and that makes for some great beaches. From Croatia to Catania and Bognor Regis to Bari, there are some beaches worth visiting. 5 beaches you must try:

1. La Playa beach, Sicily – If you head to Sicilyat any point, there is a good chance that you will fly in or our of Catania International airport. If you do, why not also visit the Etna volcano and also spend some time on La Playa beach. Great facilities, sand and shallow waters.

2. Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona- is one of the main beaches on Barcelona sea-front and with dozens of sea-food restaurants nearby, great summer weather and a great atmosphere, this is a great beach on which to relax. Learn

barceloneta beach

more about Barcelona beaches.

3. Cap d’Agde beach, France  – if you are feeling brave then Cap d’Agde beach, the worlds largest naturist beach is a consideration. Join up to 10,000 other people at one on the beach in your birthday suit.

4. St  Tropez beach, France  – If you want to mix with the rich and famous then St Tropez and the French Riviera is maybe the place for you. The French coastline boasts some lovely beaches and this is no exception. In St Tropez at night though, it can get expensive.

5. Paignton beach, England- If you enjoy pebbles rather than sand, are willing to gamble on the good weather and enjoy cold water then Paignton beach in England in the beautiful county of Devon is worth considering. Enjoy the luxury of a great British country pub in the evening and a Sunday roast.

Barcelona for groups

Barcelona for groups – as well as being a great location for couples and individuals, the city of Barcelona is also a perfect place if you are a group, whether it be a:

• Stag or hens group
• Work team building group
• Family meet up

Whatever reason for travelling or meeting as a large group, Barcelona works well because of the diversity of accommodation in Barcelona, the large range of group events, variety of food and attractions.

Barcelona groups

If you are a group for team building, stag or hen trip then events such as the the city treaure hunt, paintballing, go-karting, ladies spa day, are just a few samples of the events you can book.

For accommodation: Holiday-Velvet.com
For the events: BarcelonaAadventure.com

Is it safe to travel? Swine flu,cocktails and white Russians

A common question a lot of people have started asking if whether or not it is really any more dangerous now to travel than it has been before? Flu kills thousands each and every year and so far the fatalities have been relatively few for a flu epidemic. Should we be worried? Should we travel?

The truth is that the recommendations by the authorities and from each country are changing each day and you can go crazy trying to decide. What I can tell you is that I WILL BE travelling for sure. Is global warming going to get me

Is it safe to travel?

first? Swine flu? I am inclined to think that if anything, when I go on holiday or vacation, that the thing I need to be most concerned about in reality is drinking too much and ruining my liver over time.

A lot of us love a few drinks whilst we are on holiday. So my advice is if you are worried about travelling these days, have one or two less beers or cocktails whilst laying by the pool!!! (By the way – if you do like cocktails then make sure to try a White Russian).

10 Ideas for Extreme Sports Holidays

If you are a true thrill seeker looking for an extreme holiday, I have made a list with 10 ideas for a extreme holiday to make your holiday just a little bit different than the average holiday. These activities require preparation and responsibility.

1. Surfing – Ireland is a good place to surf because of the mild, moist and changeable weather conditions. Even though, you always have to be prepared and take booties and a hood with you, especially when the weather gets colder.

2. Wild Life Safari – Kenya is well known for its wildlife. That is why many people are going on a holiday to Kenya, to see the ‘big five’ and feeling the thrill when you are facing a cheetah. Without any doubt you can see the lion, rhino,

Exreme holdays

buffalo, leopard and elephant during a wild life safari.

3. Paintball - Yes, it can hurt a little ones you have been shot but you do not feel it because the adrenaline is pumping through your body. It is a really fun game to do with friends and family. Most of the time the paintball area has different barriers and different types of paintball.

4. Skydiving – Skydiving makes you feel free and it is a very special experience. The opportunity to fly gives you an adrenaline boost. You can do skydiving indoor and outdoor.

5. Ice diving – If you are a certified Ice Diver, you are able to ice dive. Ice dive can be a lot of fun, but of course you have to make the right preparations before doing it. During an ice dive course you learn diving planning, organization, site selection, preparation, special equipment you need for this dive and safety procedures. It may sound a little scary but you will have your thrill for certain and the first time feels strange being under de ice instead of on the ice.

6. Snowboarding – Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places to go on winter holiday. It has many areas for snowboarding and for beginners as well as experienced snowboarders, this is the place to be. Everybody is having fun, the slopes are incredibly long and the ambiance is amazing!

7. Bungy jumping – gee jumping is a nice way to give your extreme holiday an extreme boost.
The experience and the speed of the fall gives you an adrenaline shot you will not and cannot forget. There are many bungy jump locations, so you can do it where and whenever you like.  

8. B.A.S.E Jumping – .S.E Jumping (what stands for Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) can be an extreme dangerous sport. It simply is jumping of everything that is around you, whether it’s stuck or loose, you just jump of something and hope that your parachute will opens on time, and that’s what makes it an exciting sport.

9. Mountain biking -  best place for a mountain biking tour is in the mountains of course. In my opinion Switzerland is a very good location because there are many slopes and hills. Even for beginners is this a good place. There are schools where you can learn mountain biking.

10. Kitesurfing – esurfing is a variation of windsurfing. But the feeling of jumping so high makes you feel like you can fly. With good weather conditions and good equipment it is an experience you cannot forget.

International Event Earth Hour

Earth Hour is a worldwide event that is organized by WWF (World Wide Fund). The World Wide Fund for Nature/Word Wildlife Fund is a non-profit organisation that stands for conservation, research and restoration of the environment. With this action Earth Hour wants to raise awareness and to take action on the climate change. They want to achieve this goal by asking households worldwide to turn off all the lights and electrical devices for one hour in more than 1000 cities. Because they believe that we can make a different.

WWF

In 2008, 377 cities participated and this year they expect hundreds of cities are participating and signing up for turning their lights off and make this event even more special than the previous year. In Belgium, where it all started, will turn off their light in the Atomium and other big cities like Gent and Antwerpen are also participating. As a citizen you can help to achieve this goal by turning off your lights between 20h30 and 21h30 and encourage your friends, family and neighbours to participate.

As a company, town or government you can also turn off all the lights in the building, encourage the employees, clients, residents to participate and make a donation. Earth Hour has been planned to switch off the globe for one hour.

Getting to Cyprus

To view property and real estate in Cyprus, you will have to travel there first. The best way to get there (only ways in fact) are by ferry and by airplane.

Ferry travel: The main links are between Cyprus and Greece, although the ferries run infrequently. You are btter off flying onto the island of Cyprus, unless you are travelling perhaps from Greece.

Flights to Cyprus: The main airports are in Phafos and in Larnaca and youhave a choice of airlines including Cyprus Airways, British Airways, Olympic Airlines and Austraian Airlines. Your best bet is to look on http://www.expedia.com/ or http://www.expedia.co.uk/ and comparing prices. from the UK, flights take approx four and a half hours.

What’s Hot in Europe. City Winter Breaks.

Once Xmas is over with and the winter blues start to kick in, many of us start thinking about getting away for a few days or a week in March or April. So where is hot for March and April in 2009? Where is worth going. My 3 choices below.

1. Venice – is I know a common choice BUT many people head to Venice in the peak of summer and the cafes are full and city more crowded. A trip to Venice in March or April means you avoid the crowds and it can be a great time to

Taormina

visit Venice. Venice accommodation is also more readily available and you have more choose in March or April. 

2. Paris in March and April also attracts me because it is much easier and less crowded in the museums and galleries including the Louvre. Paris accommodation also offers more options and air fares can sometimes be much more affordable in the winter months. Ryanair are one airline worth checking.

3. Sicily is my other choice. Sicily is quite far South being near to the coast of Africa and the weather if you are lucky can already be very nice in March and April. Sicily has a lot to offer with the Etna volcano and the stunning town of Taormina.

Paris for the family (Part 2)

The Vedettes de Paris is also another boat trip that offers an hour’s ride along the Seine, past Notre Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. There are cruises especially for young children, with an on-board pirate, Barthelemy. You can find the boat at Port de Suffren, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Disneyland Paris

Climbing up the Eiffel Tower is always a must; tickets start at €3.80 for over-25s and €3 for under-25s.

If you want something a little slower, the American Library in the 7th arrondissement takes children storytelling for children aged three and under on the first and last Thursday of the month at 10.30am.

If this doesn’t impress the kids, there’s Disneyland Paris. To get there, take a train to Marne la Vallée. Admission at €57 per adult and €41.50 per child isn’t cheap but for a slightly cheaper alternative, the Parc Astérix has rides and plenty to offer young children.

Paris for the family (Part 1)

Even though Paris is better known for romance and fashion, it’s still a good city where you can take your children. There are plenty of things to do to keep them occupied and you happy.

Firstly renting an apartment would be a good option. Costs for apartments do vary but they certainly offer better value than a hotel and enble the whole family to stay together in comfort. For outdoor entertainment, try the Parc de la Villette with it’s 10 individual gardens. There’s the Dragon Garden with its 80m dragon whose tongue doubles as a slide. This is also where you’ll

Family travel in paris

find the Cité des Sciences, Cité de la Musique, an equestrian centre, concert hall and theatre. If you also go right into the center you’ll find the Jardin des Tuileries (www.parisinfo.com) which has a summer funfair from mid-June to August. Outside of the summer, you’ll also find a playground and pony rides that take place during the weekends from 11am-6pm and cost €2.50.

A boat ride is always a dead cert to impress the kids. Not far from the Cité des Science is the St-Martin Canal. Here you can take a picturesque ride through the districts of Paris. The boat’s times are from the Bassin de Villette at 9.45am and 2.45pm and the cost is €14 one way. The jouney ends at Port de l’Arsenal near the Bastilleand the trip lasts 2 hours.