Airline & Holiday Information

Archive for the ‘City Guides’ Category

Wales is known for its stunning scenery, which attracts many tourists each year. The country is also known for its culture and art, which can be explored at the National Museum of Wales. The National Museum of Wales is made up of eight museums, each of which offer a huge variety of artefacts and art to explore. Those interested in learning about the country’s Roman culture may wish to visit the National Roman Legion Museum, which is located in Caerleon, Newport.

Wales has many stunning seaside resorts, including Llandudno, which has a wide variety of interesting attractions. Llandudno is home to the Great Orme, a nature reserve that offers gorgeous views of the Welsh countryside. The area is widely populated by sheep and Kashmir goats and is perfect for taking long, relaxing walks. There are several paths available, from short paths for those wanting to take a quicker route to longer, more challenging paths for those wishing to explore the whole of the Orme and enjoy stunning views of Llandudno and its surroundings.

For a bit of history, Conwy is an ideal place to visit. Conwy is a small town and is home to Conwy Castle. Construction of Conwy Castle began in 1283 and the castle is now a popular tourist attraction. Also located in Conwy is the Smallest House in Great Britain, which is so small that visitors are unable to enter some rooms. The house is a fascinating structure and worth a visit for those looking for an interesting and memorable attraction.

Wales is home to Snowdonia, where visitors can explore Mount Snowdon. Snowdonia National Park is one of the most popular attractions in Wales and is perfect for those who love nature.

Wales offers a variety of hotels and restaurants to suit all budgets. Visitors can either sample the Welsh cuisine or enjoy a variety of English food at the many restaurants and cafes available.

With breathtaking views of the countryside and a variety of wildlife to explore, your visit to Wales is sure to be a memorable one.

Whether you are on a cruise or simply taking a ferry from one of the ports across the water, Bari is an international port city of major significance, with a history that dates back to B.C. times when it was the most important Roman port in the empire. As the capital of the Apulia region of Italy, this is a major commercial centre and second in importance only to Naples; it is an entry and exit point for international travellers who prefer aquatic transportation to land-based modes of travel. Bari’s port is continuously busy, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

One of the beauties of Bari is the simple fact that the oldest sections of the city still retain the medieval layout, including some significant Roman and pre-Roman buildings and sites that allow the intrepid adventurer a chance to step back in time. Regardless of whether you are visiting Bari as a port of call on a cruise of the Adriatic, or staying here in one of the many villas or apartments for an extended holiday, there is plenty to explore in the old sections of the city.

But Bari is not just about the history. The modern sections of the city have continued to increase their technological advancements in the 21st century, and there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering food and spirits from after nightfall until daybreak. And if you are a connoisseur of wine and seafood there is no better place to be than Bari, with Primitivo being a local favourite, poured alongside fresh sea urchins and mussels as a local delicacy.

In these days of increasingly cheap flights there is no good reason why you should not take yourself off to a favourite holiday destination such as Palma, almost on a whim. Booking online is simplicity itself, and with so many cheap flights to choose from the only difficulty is deciding which one to go for.

It’s easy to see why Palma is a top destination for short breaks and longer holidays alike. Being the capital of the Balearic Islands (with the great advantage of being situated in the stunning Bay of Palma) this city has worked hard to rise from more deprived times and is now a favourite with visitors, striking just the right balance between the historic and modern.

If you are looking for a vibrant nightlife, trendy bars, boutiques and nightclubs, Palma has all of these. But equally, there are traditional restaurants and pavement cafes in which to relax. The historic quarter, palaces, galleries and museums cater for all tastes, and tourists have been discovering that Palma is a worthy destination in its own right rather than just a staging post to the beach resorts.

There are plenty of pensions and hotels to choose from, such as the small and friendly Palau Sa Font, which is a renovated Episcopal palace dating from the sixteenth century, having a fine view across the Bay. Seafood restaurants on the waterfront and restaurants specialising in Mallorcan cuisine ensure plenty of choice when it comes to dining.

The sandstone cathedral dominating the waterfront and the Royal Palace of the Citadel are just two of the great sights on offer, so choose from the cheap flights and fly to Palma pronto.

Despite its political swing to the hard ‘right’ a few years ago, when it started to crack down harshly on its own traditions of religious freedom, sexual tolerance and generous immigration, today Amsterdam – the city of relaxed open-mindedness and colourful diversity – appears to have returned to its easy-going centre of gravity. All of which makes the lovely sights and scenes it has to offer a good deal more enjoyable.

The people of Amsterdam are gracious, friendly and helpful to the tourist (as well as to one another), attributes which undoubtedly enhance the enjoyment of visiting. With so much relaxed toleration, though, visitors from less laid-back cultures may find themselves discovering their own inner prude. For instance, there really are cannabis cafes, and the famous red light district is thriving. But because the Dutch are at ease with both, they’re also maturely discrete about them – you’re not going to find a scantily-clad dancer writhing in a shop window on the high street, or a family-friendly restaurant choked with spliff-exhaust. If you want to see these places, you’re going to have to make a point of finding them.

There is much to see and appreciate in this marvellous city. In the summer especially, Amsterdam plays host to a huge array of colourful festivals and events. You can sit in a café beside a beautiful old canal, stare in wonderment at the splendid old villas of the merchants, visit countless museums laden with fabulous art, stroll through the peaceful lanes, courtyards and boutiques of the Jordaan, or soothe yourself in the luscious green tranquillity of the Vondelpark (the grandest of the city’s thirty parks) – and you can shop till you drop if the fancy takes you.

Despite the fact that Cannes is billed as one of the most luxurious and pristine destinations along the French Riviera, there are a few things which are still quite a shock to travellers from other countries, not the least of which is the parking situation. If you are there for a trip of any duration, regardless if it is one day or one week, your primary mode of transportation is going to be your own two feet. This is especially true if you are coming in from the airport in Nice, as the bus ride from the neighbouring town takes over two hours despite the fact that it is less than 20 miles. This is because the bus stops every few hundred metres. Taxis are out of the question, unless you happen to be someone with pockets deep enough to afford renting one of the most luxurious villas or hotels on the coast.

The train is arguably one of the best ways to get in and out of Cannes, but once you are in the city there is really only one way to get around. Parking is next to impossible, so if you have a vehicle you will want to leave it behind or in an outlying village and take the train or bus into the city proper. The actual bus system within Cannes is fairly efficient, and can get you to all of the destinations within the city itself for a relatively low fare: just over one euro per trip. Discount ticket packages can be purchased for longer stays.

Take advantage of cheap flights from Manchester to Aberdeen and experience two of the UK’s most fascinating and diverse cities.

With flights to Manchester and flights to Aberdeen being so competitively priced, and most major airlines including them in their package deals, there has never been a better time to explore these two proud and historically important cities.

Manchester has two of Britain’s largest universities and two of the world’s most famous football clubs. In addition to a vibrant nightlife, Manchester has many historic buildings and places of cultural interest to enjoy.

Aberdeen, Scotland’s third largest city, is nicknamed the ‘Granite City’ because of its wealth of sparkling granite buildings, and is less commonly known as Europe’s oil capital because it is at the centre of the UK’s North Sea oil industry.

A world away from oil, though, Aberdeen is a city that takes its flowers very seriously, winning Britain’s prestigious award of Flower Capital 10 times.

With a major university and great nightlife, museums and galleries, as well as being home to the Scottish Premier League football team Aberdeen FC, Aberdeen has something to offer every visitor.

The area around Aberdeen is also fascinating, and there are a number of popular trails to take. As this is Scotland, there is the obligatory Whisky Trail, and also the Victorian Heritage and Grampian Castle Trails for those interested.

Aberdeen is also within easy reach of the Moray Coast with its beautiful beaches and wildlife, including dolphins.

Northern Ireland has several administrative regions with the capital city being Belfast.  There are many market towns and pleasant villages scattered throughout the province.  It should be remembered that this is a province of the UK unlike Southern Ireland, which is a democratic state in its own right.  This fact has of course been the cause of the ‘troubles’ that plagued the area for many years.  Thankfully the terrorist activity is now virtually at an end and tourism has resumed to Northern Ireland. 

This is an attractive land of mountains, forest parks, sparkling lakes and windswept moors.  Driving in Northern Ireland is no problem and many visitors hire a car to explore properly. Wherever you go you will never be more than half an hour from the sea.

The country’s counties have pleasant scenery and many small towns. Belfast is in Co. Antrim; Co. Armagh is one of the most densely populated areas; Londonderry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland; in Co. Down you’ll find the gorgeous coastal resort of Bangor as well as the Mourne Mountains; Co. Fermanagh is adjacent to Ireland’s border and is famous for its numerous lakes; and Co. Tyrone is home to the Sperrin Mountains.

Other destinations that one should visit are the North Coast. It’s said to be the best scenic area in all of Europe.  The Mourne Mountains are a walker’s paradise where old mountain tracks lead you past lakes, rivers, and woodlands and up to many beautiful peaks and The Mourne Wall.  And lastly there is Rathlin Island, which is the only, inhabited offshore island connected to the mainland by a regular ferry service.

Belfast has been voted as the fourth best destination in the UK Travel Awards.  There is also Derry to visit, the second largest city famous for its 16th century stone city walls and the only complete city walls in all of Ireland that are still standing.

Sometimes the ideal holiday destination may be a city with foreign customs, and a lifestyle that is completely different from your own. Perhaps you are planning a flight to Cairo, Egypt or a flight to Amman, Jordan, and you want to make sure that you put your best foot forward. An air travel consolidator may be the answer to your problems.

Consolidators can be found on the internet or located in ethnic neighbourhoods in your city. Orbitz and Expedia are two of the larger online consolidators, but don not be afraid to ask co-workers or family members if they have a specific consolidator that they have used before.

There are different types of consolidators, but you will want a destination specialist. Destination specialists will often include car hires and/or hotel packages in their flight packages, finding you the cheapest flights possible. They are generally natives of the country you plan to visit, giving you an opportunity to confer with someone who knows the local customs, restrictions and the intricacies of travel to these cities. Since they book the majority of their clients on the same airlines, they have an inside edge on great discounts. You will get the most convenient flights at the most affordable prices by using a consolidator who has the means and inside information to finalize a great deal for you.

As you sit back to enjoy your cheap flight, you will also take great pleasure in knowing that no matter how much you paid, the person sitting across the aisle from you probably paid a lot more than you did.

Whether travellers choose to rent an apartment for an extended holiday, or splurge on one of the many seaside villas that are available year-round, finding a room is fairly easy. One thing that is not easy, however, is getting around the city. Travellers should be armed with a healthy dose of adventure, when braving the streets of Naples.

Public transportation is confusing in Naples, and many travellers choose to go by foot when at all possible. There are two reasons for this. First and foremost is the simple fact that Naples is an incredibly old city, and as such, it was never laid out with modern transportation in mind. As such, the streets are incredibly narrow and there is limited parking at best. Cars will often go the wrong way down one-way streets, and people will generally double and even triple park their cars. If you find yourself needing to get from one place to another the best choice of action is to take the underground metro, as any form of transportation topside is going to get involved in traffic jams at some point or another.

There are literally dozens of architectural and cultural wonders to experience in Naples, including the Maschio Angioino , the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and the Parco Virgiliano. While the city is fairly large and sprawls across the entirety of the coast surrounding the Gulf of Naples, a little bit of hiking is a great way to burn off extra calories from the phenomenal cuisine that everyone enjoys while staying in the city.

In the city of Paris, there are a wide variety of attractions and entertainment destinations.  Known as the “city of 100 villages”, Paris is divided into 20 unique districts, all with their own special features and interesting qualities.  It is for this reason that it is very difficult to define the “real” Paris, highlighting all the must see attractions in the city.  With so many options, it’s an excellent idea to carefully consider and plan your activities in Paris.  Many travel authorities suggest spending several days in the city if you wish to enjoy all the main features.

Paris is of course well known throughout the world as a tourist destination, and as such the public transportation options are first rate.  The Paris subway is without a doubt the highlight of public transportation in the city and should be your preferred method of travel.  As a rule of thumb, all hotels in the city centre are within easy walking distance of a subway station.

When staying in Paris it’s also important to note that the further you are from the centre of Paris, the cheaper the hotel rooms become.  With such an excellent transportation network, there is little reason to stay very central.  A continental breakfast is sometimes not included in the room price, and should be taken into consideration for extra costs. It’s also important to note that many of these hotels do not have room service facilities.

Food in Paris is of course no problem as there are numerous restaurants and other styles of eatery available.