Whether booking a trip to magical Majorca, beautiful Bulgaria or sunny Spain, most people these days opt for the package holiday option – it takes all the fuss out of holiday planning, meaning you no longer need to stress about the little things like hotel transfers.  There are three main types of package deals available – self-catering, half-board and all-inclusive.  Which is the best deal for you?

Self-catering

Self-catering holidays are perfect for people who want to cook for themselves, yet this type of deal also leaves the option of sampling the local cuisine open.  With proper planning, you can save a lot of money this way, but you need to be organised and know where to buy the cheapest groceries.  Self-catering gives you the freedom to choose what you eat as well as when and where.

Half-board

A popular option found in hotels, this is the modern day equivalent of the B&B.  Your breakfast is included and will usually be offered buffet style.  Once you eat your fill in the morning, you can head out and about for the day and probably skip lunch.  Then you only need to pay for your evening meal.  This is a great way of sampling the local cuisine, but remember that you won’t have cooking facilities available, so you’ll need to eat out or in the hotel every night.

Full-board (or all-inclusive)

All inclusive deals are brilliant for those who don’t want to worry about money while they are travelling.  Every meal is paid for, and you can eat as much as you like (within reason).  Most all-inclusive deals include soft drinks and sometimes even alcoholic beverages.  All meals are generally served buffet-style.  The downside of this system is that you may feel somewhat tied to the hotel – it’s hard to justify paying for a meal in a restaurant when you have already paid upfront for meals in the hotel.

Whichever option you choose, plan accordingly.  Happy holidays!

Picture: Mamboman1

It’s small wonder that Ireland is a destination which usually features on people’s top ten list of places to visit in their lifetime.  Ireland offers captivating music, stunning scenery and a wealth of history, along with the best Guinness you’re ever likely to sample.  The Irish themselves are known for being extremely friendly and welcoming.  Of course, Ireland has not been without its troubles over the years, and the island is still separated into two.  Five sixths of the island is named the Republic of Ireland and the last sixth – Northern Ireland – remains part of the United Kingdom.

Ireland has numerous attractions, so here is just a sampling of some must-visit destinations to put on your itinerary.

Dublin City

Dublin is small enough for visitors to explore thoroughly, whether on foot or by bus.  With its bustling streets lined with shops, museums and historical architecture, the city will leave you spellbound.  Dublin is particularly packed on a Saturday, so if you’re not a fan of crowds, it’s better to visit midweek.

The Giant’s Causeway

A top attraction in Northern Island, the Giant’s Causeway is a set of oddly regular basalt columns.  The origins of these columns has inspired debate for centuries, and plenty of theories on their formation remain even today.  Visitors can travel to the site by car or by shuttle bus.  While there, don’t forget to pay the famous Old Bushmills Distillery a visit.

Cliffs of Moher

These famous cliffs are simply spectacular – the undulating landscape sudden slips away to a sheer 650 foot drop down into the Atlantic Ocean.  The cliffs and watchtower provide stunning views of the Aran Islands as well as several mountain ranges in the north.

Galway

Those into music will enjoy Galway in the west of Ireland.  Almost every pub in this city holds its own live music session featuring highly talented local musicians on a weekly basis and sometimes even daily.  Galway’s streets are also lined with interesting shops, so make sure you set aside some time to explore the area.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, now colloquially known as Jazz Fest, which started up in 1970 is returning for another year. It is a celebration that takes place annually around April and May and puts the spotlight on the music and culture of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.

This year the festival will run for seven days over two consecutive weekends from April 26th to 28th and May 2nd to 5th. In its first year, the festival only attracted around 350 people; now some 400,000 people attend and it is the second most popular event in the state following Mardi Gras. The Fair Grounds Race Course plays host to the festival each year.

Jazz is not the only type of music going on though; the festival also celebrates all types of music from blues to R&B to country music to gospel music. Headlining in 2013 at the festival will be popular bands such as Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Maroon 5 and Dave Matthews Band. There is always something that everyone, young and old, will be sure to enjoy. There are 6 different stages as well as 5 tents, including a Blues Tent, Gospel Tent and Kids Tent. The music runs during the day time from 11am until 7pm.

It has been announced that the seven days of music will be broadcast live by AXS. Tickets for the event are available via the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival website as well as at the New Orleans Arena Box Office.

Picture: Markmans

Spain has been at the number one spot for a number of years as the most popular destination for British families, and again this year it reigns supreme. There is some movement on the list, with the USA moving up and Turkey as well. Both have been faring well with good prices and exchange rates. Turkey also benefits from some of the hottest temperatures whilst still being under 5 hours flying.

So here is the top ten list:

1. Spain
2. United States
3. France
4. Italy
5. Turkey
6. Portugal
7. Cyprus
8. United Arab Emirates
9. United Kingdom
10. Egypt     

In Spain there are a number of places which attract high numbers of tourist’s year on year, thanks to their hot temperatures, warm blue waters and soft golden sand beaches. For us Brits nothing can beat Benidorm, on the Costa Blanca. This is the original package holiday resort and it has grown into a holiday mecca. Known for its affordable hotels such as the Atenea Hotel Benidorm also caters for families, couples and young travellers anyone looking for fun in the sun.

Benidorm isn’t the only hot spot in this region, see hotels in Costa Blanca, Dania and Javea are also popular, but offer a different taste of Spain compared to the built up resort of Benidorm. It doesn’t mean they are quiet; they are still full of Spanish spirit. Spain’s Islands welcome thousands of tourists every year, close to home you have Majorca and Ibiza and further afield you have the Canary Islands, with Tenerife being popular in that collection.

Majorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands has resorts for everyone, the party town of Magaluf, the destination for many young travellers on their first holiday away from their parents. Or how about Alcudia, full of traditional Spanish charm and steeped in history.

Next up you have Ibiza which is the quintessential party island. Known for summer long parties in the resorts of San Antonio and Playa D’en Bossa Ibiza has a party atmosphere and a relaxed vibe, so no wonder hippies have made it their home.

Tenerife in the Canary Islands draws many tourists in with its sun drenched beaches, what more could you want for a relaxing holiday? There are also plenty of other attractions on this island which draws people back year after year including a lively nightlife, varied shopping and a number of historical spots.

So the question is will Spain be your destination for your summer holiday, or will you be trying some of the other hot destinations on the list.

Picture courtesy of comunitatvalenciana