Top 3 Summer Holiday Destinations for British Tourists in 2012

Millions of tourists from United Kingdom travel abroad every summer. But in order to make your trip a success, it is important to plan your holiday break in advance and now would be the perfect time to start planning. Not that many tourists prefer long flight hours, so the majority of top holiday destinations for Brits are based around the Mediterranean.

1.       Turkey. Turkey has undoubtedly been a popular destination during the past decade and this year is not going to be an exception. This country attracts majority of tourists due to affordability and cheap travel packages. The holidaying value tourists are receiving for the money they spend on their holiday is really hard to beat. Majority of hotels in Turkey follow an “all-inclusive package” rules, which means you can eat and drink how much you want. It’s not a secret that eating and drinking out are the 2 biggest holidaying expenses. There’s a great selection of premium hotels and high-quality resorts in Turkey. Sunny weather and golden sandy beaches on the Mediterranean coast guarantee you will have a good holiday

2.       Spain. Spanish resort cities are definitely going to be hot choices this summer season. Balearic Islands and mainland cities like Malaga, Marbella, Benidorm and Fuengirola are the most popular choices among British tourists. Spanish traditions, delicious cuisine and warm climate have always attracted a lot of tourists from all around the world. Balearic Islands are known for cities like San Antonio in Ibiza and Magaluf in Majorca thanks to wild nightlife. Parties never stop for a moment there, so in case you are travelling with your friends and looking to have some fun this summer, you should most definitely head to Balearics.

Cheap villas in Spain are also very popular among tourists. Rental prices for cheap villas in Spain vary depending on the region, but in general self-catered accommodations in Spain are going to be cheaper than staying in a hotel. Cheap villas in Spain include all amenities you could ever wish for and majority of them have private swimming pools. 

3.       Greece. Traditional Greek charm and stunningly beautiful nature have always attracted millions of tourists every year. Despite the financial struggle Greece has been having lately, this will not affect tourism area at all. Greek islands like Crete and Rhodes are worth a visit. Especially Rhodes Island. This island is only approximately 80 kilometers long and you can make a round trip around the island in a single day. 

If you are going on Crete, do not forget to use an opportunity to rent Crete villas. Financial crisis in Greece is in full swing at the moment, so I’m sure you will be able to find luxurious Crete villas for affordable prices. It would be a shame not to use this opportunity in your favor and spend your holiday in one of the premium Crete villas for standard hotel rates!

Malta & Santorini Holidays – Sights to See and Things to Do

Malta and Santorini are two well-known island holiday destinations. The Republic of Malta is an island that is located in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily. It is a tiny island with 300 square kilometres of land.  Tourist season for Malta holidays starts in June. Average sea temperatures during high season exceed 23 degrees by Celsius.

Malta not so long ago joined the European Union and for the last couple of years the island has gone through a major redevelopment in order to suit visitor’s needs. So do not be surprised to see a brand new car followed by a horse with a cart. Malta is an island with very interesting historical sights and magnificent architectural buildings. Casa Rocca Piccola is a true historical gem located in Valleta, Malta.

People going on Malta holidays have a huge list of attractions to choose from. Most popular attraction among tourists is undoubtedly Go Dive Malta diving center located in Mellieha. Malta offers some amazingly beautiful diving sites and it is one of the main reasons why diving is so popular among people going on Malta holidays. The team working at this diving center really knows their stuff and provides you with useful briefings before each dive session. They are true professionals with whom you will always have a feeling that everything is under control.

Santorini is a Greek island located in the southern part of Aegean Sea. Officially Santorini island is called Thira (Thera). It’s a mysterious island with stunningly beautiful sea views and amazing resorts, making Santorini holidays the best in the Aegean Sea.  According to modern day historians, Plato’s Atlantis is actually Thera. There was a lot of speculation on this topic and a number of popular history channels even created shows dedicated to Thera’s connection to Atlantis.

Getting to Santorini island is not hard. Most international airline companies offer flights to Santorini via Athens. Approximated flying time from Athens to Santorini is about 30 minutes and the island itself is considerably larger than Malta, so you will have more land to explore when on Santorini holidays.

Besides lying on the beach and sunbathing the whole time during your Santorini holidays, explore this island and get to the top of it to capture beautiful sea views. You have 3 options to get to the top – tram, donkey or walk. Walk and tram price is the same, 5 euro. You can take a donkey for one round and ride with a tram for other round. A ride with donkey will take longer time and they smell pretty bad, so if that does not concern you, then go ahead.

Cornish Cottages – Get the Best from Cornwall Holiday

Are you planning on spending your next holiday break in Cornwall, England? Spectacular sceneries combined with fabulous beaches make this county one of the most beautiful counties in the whole United Kingdom. There are a lot of attractions and sites to see in Cornwall county, so if you are a true tourist who wants to maximize his trip, it would be a good idea to rent one of the holiday cottages Cornwall.

Cornwall’s coastline stretches to thousands of miles, so finding a beach for an evening walk will not be a problem. You can explore beaches along the shore while staying in your own holiday cottages Cornwall. Watching picturesque sunset on one of the beaches in Cornwall county is a truly breathtaking experience!

The most popular holiday destination in Cornwall is undoubtedly Newquay. You can experience Newquay by trying cycling, fishing, diving, sailing, visiting local SPA, wild nightlife and several other attractions. There are a couple of affordable surf schools located in Newquay. The most famous surf school is Kingsurf Surf School, so in case you want to learn surfing, you should definitely head there. If you fancy wildlife, there is Newquay Zoo with some pretty rare and interesting animal species living there. As you can see, Newquay is one of the few cities in Cornwall where you will simply not have a single minute to be bored.

St Ives is another popular place for all kinds of watersport activities. A lot of travel experts believe that UK’s finest beaches are the ones in St Ives. Golden sand and perfect sea for surfing is a great way to spend your holiday! Gwithian and Porthminster are two most famous beaches in St Ives, so you definitely want to check out those.

But the most popular attraction in Cornwall is the Eden Project located in St Blazey town. According to latest UK tourism statistics, Eden Project is attracting at least one eighth of Cornwall tourists. It’s an architectural phenomenon that is truly worth visiting. Since 2002, Eden Project was host for a series of musical performances that are called the Eden Sessions.

Staying in holiday cottages Cornwall is a holiday experience you will never forget. Spending holiday break in cottages gives you flexibility and ability to be the king of your own time. You will never be far from anywhere! All cottages are equipped with all modern extras you could ever think of. Majority of cottages are self-catered, but for an additional cost you can rent a catered cottage. Cottages can be found throughout the county, but most popular cities for rentals are Newquay, St Ives, Falmouth and Padstow. 

Holidaying In Italy Or Turkey – What Country Is Right For You?

Italy and Turkey are two holiday destinations that have majorly grown in popularity among travellers and there are valid reasons for that. Both countries have a lot to offer to visitors and a lot of attractions to see. This popularity spike has led to a lot of various travelling packages to these countries being offered by companies, which makes a decision making process between these two even harder. Are you in the same boat and can’t decide which country is right for you?

In order to make a decision you will not regret later, you have to have a clear understanding of what these countries have to offer to you specifically and what are you looking forward to getting from this vacation. Oftentimes air and water temperatures are decisive factors when going on a holiday. Both countries have warm climates, so if you are just looking to have some fun time sunbathing by the sea, you might want to drill it down further a little bit and find out more about these two most ancient countries in the world.

Turkey holidays are going to cost you less that is a fact. There are so many different premium hotels and so many resort places and all of them are competing against each other, hence the lower prices. While on Turkey holidays, 95% of hotels offer an “all inclusive” packages and this make them a perfect place to spend your holiday at if you are on a tight budget or travelling in large groups. It’s a no-brainer that you can save a lot of money on eliminating eating out habits, especially if you do not know the local area that well and are not familiar with local restaurants and cafes. 

When going on Turkey holidays, make sure to book your stay at a hotel you researched well before ordering. TripAdvisor is a great place to research Turkish hotels and there are thousands of unbiased reviews from real tourists.

What is so special about going on holidays to Italy? As opposed to Turkey, Italy is not a cheap country and offers slightly different way of holidaying, but there are a lot of other great things to do rather than just eating in your hotel room three times a day and spending all your days sunbathing. There are a lot of interesting museums and historical sites for you to visit. However, if you will want to visit Italian attractions, you will have to rent a car, since the public transportation here is not as advanced as in other European parts. Italy is basically the creator of fashion industry and is the mother country of many worlds’ famous designers, so if you are an avid shopper, you must go on holidays to Italy.

I’ve travelled to Italy (Tuscany and Florence) and Turkey (Alanya). Both times I stayed in a 4-star hotel and the service in Turkey was a lot better than compared to Italy. Probably this is because of the competition, which forces them to fight for every client and make him pleased as much as they can. This was my personal experience though, so the choice is up to you, but I hope this information I shared with you will help you to decide!

5 Tips for Stress-Free Holidays

Holidays can be extremely stressful and instead of relieving the stress of your everyday life, they can actually cause more headache than you had before your holiday. Enjoy these five simple tips that will help you to fight that stress and not allow it to ruin your holiday experience. These tips are mostly useful when traveling to European resorts, but some of the stuff pointed out here can be also applied to other holiday destinations.

1. Make sure to scan your passport before going on a holiday. Hopefully it does not happen to you, but sometimes we tend to lose important stuff and passport is not an exception. By having your passport copied, it will be much easier and faster for you to get a replacement. Knowing that you have a copy of your passport also adds some sense of security. Do not store the copy in your passport though, otherwise you will lose both.

2. When going through customs be respectful and patient. You have to understand that these were created for your own safety. Having that negative attitude will not get you far. In fact, creating a fuss out of nowhere will probably attract more attention and the customs officials might get suspicious and send you for an extra search.

3. When you are on your holiday, try to not look like a tourist and attract unwanted attention. Depending on country you will be spending your time in, you simply do not want to look like a potential target to pickpockets. When going to places like Albufeira Old Town in Portugal, avoid wearing flashy jewelry, since Albufeira Old Town is notorious for its smugglers and pickpockets. When in Javea, Spain, try to keep your camera in your bag when you are not using it.

 4. Always consult with your doctor before leaving on a holiday. When you have decided the place you want to go to, find out about possible diseases and infections in the area. If it’s a sunny region with warm climate such as Javea in Spain, the chances are you will be required to have some vaccinations made. Make sure to bring the vaccination certificate with you, as you will most likely be asked to shop it when arriving back to your country.

5. It may sound silly, but as an additional step against the pickpockets, you might want to use a racing belt. By using a racing belt and storing all your stuff in it you will not attract pickpockets, since it is almost impossible to steal anything from you. Remember, getting robbed can completely ruin your holiday mood and spirit. Don’t let that happen!

Visiting the New Forest National Park – Perfect Holiday

Are you expecting to go on a vacation soon, but still haven’t yet decided where you want to go? If you do not want to go crazy on your budget and spend too much money on your trip, we will share with you a couple of traveling destination ideas here in England, which will hopefully inspire you to come up with your own plan and list of sights you want to visit.

For those who enjoy connecting with nature, the New Forest National Park located in the southern part of England must be definitely included in your destinations list. Thanks to its rich regions with beautiful sceneries and varied wildlife, this place is one of the most favorite travel destinations for many tourists. New Forest National Park has in fact very ancient history, dating back to Mesolithic period and the park itself was originally created as a place for royal hunting, specifically deer hunting. A lot of artifacts were found, including ancient people bone remains, so this sight actually holds a very important historical value. You are free to join hundreds of others hikers and hike through various hiking trails and paths and enjoying local landscapes at the same time.

If you’re on a holiday with your friends, you might want to consider renting some New Forest cottages. Living in New Forest cottages with a group of friends is very fun and will definitely let you connect and get to know each other. Do you have a pet? Do not worry, there are hundreds of pet-friendly New Forest cottages for you to choose from.

If you consider yourself a beach lover, you might want to stop by in Devon, as it’s a well-known place for its stunning beaches and 70-mile coastline. If you have your vacation during the summer and miss some adrenalin in your blood, you can always participate in some water sport activities. There are a lot of holiday cottages Devon to choose from. These self-catering holiday cottages Devon will truly enable you to feel like a real local inhabitant. Many of holiday cottages Devon even offer their personal holiday idea suggestions. Short breaks usually start from 190 pounds, which is a bargain if you ask me. What are you waiting for? Book your trip in advance and prepare yourself for a vacation you and your family deserved so much! Have a safe trip!

Tips for Those Travelling to Spain

When you’re thinking of travelling to Spain, you have to keep in mind that it is a very multinational country with a lot of things and sights to see. Before you hop on that plane, you should know these couple of tips about Spain that will allow you to discover most important and beautiful parts of this amazing country.

First of all you have to decide what type of traveller are you. Spain is literally great travelling destination for any all kinds of travelers and it offers you a possibility to see big cities, country’s landscapes, historical parts of the country, mountains, beaches or museums. When I first traveled to this country, I was amazed at diversity of places and destinations it offers to avid travellers. Everything depends on the time of year.

If you prefer historical sights and museums, Madrid and Barcelona definitely should be your choice. But I have to warn you that these two cities are pretty huge and have a lot of tourist museums and places. So prepare yourself to spend your vacation in crowdie areas, which isn’t always suitable for everybody.
If you prefer a relaxation and rest, I’d definitely suggest you visiting Canary Islands, specifically Lanzarote. It’s a great place to spend time with your family or simply have a great time with your friends. I’ve been both to Lanzarote and Formentara, but I find first one better. It isn’t as crowdie and has more attractions and points of destination to offer. I would strongly suggest you to rent a villa accommodation and your holiday will be a blast, guaranteed!

If you want to enjoy your holiday like a true Catalonian resident, I’d recommend you booking your trip to Costa Brava. The town you’ll choose is up to you, but if you haven’t been to Catalonian Costa Brava, you definitely need to visit Calonge or Begur. Both towns are located on Costa Brava coast and your holiday will be full of amazements. Same as in Lanzarote, you’ll want to avoid costly hotels and rent an villa accommodation yourself. These villas are not so expensive, but they will allow you to fully enjoy your trip. Imagine waking up, going to your garden and picking up some fresh fruits or veggies for your breakfast. It’s obviously a great escape place from current cold season in UK.

These couple of places are in my opinion the best places to visit if you’re going to Spain. Enjoy your vacation and don’t forget to have fun and rest your mind!