Airline & Holiday Information

Archive for the ‘Worldwide Travel’ Category

A lot of people automatically think that going on holiday means going to one destination and then only staying put in one place for an entire week, but this can get a little boring.  For people who like to do a variety of things while still having the convenience and comfort of not having to pack and unpack multiple times during a holiday,  cruise holidays can be a great choice.

Of course, some people may worry that in order to have a great cruise holiday, they will need to pay for a very expensive cruise. But the fact is, cruise holidays are always a safe bet because no matter what cruise line you choose or what destination you wish to go to, there will be a certain high standard for your holiday. This is because whether you choose Carnival cruise line to go to Mexico, Holland America cruise line to go to Alaska, or Princess cruises to cruise around Europe, all of them will have good food that is available in some form round the clock and is included in your cruise fare.

Cruises will all have nice cabins, waiters who will take good care of you for the duration of your cruise, and excellent room service. There will be nightly entertainment, a wide variety of fun venues and activities to visit and do on the cruise ship, and they will all go to interesting destinations. You can be sure that cruise holidays are one of the best holidays you can choose.

Royal Caribbean cruises crisscross the oceans delivering adventure for all ages. Whether it is a young family, a group of singles or an adult couple, Royal Caribbean cruise deals are for the young at heart at an affordable price.

Royal Caribbean offers many programs for children in their all-inclusive price. With age appropriate curriculum and college trained youth staff, they provide activities and entertainment for all kids. From infants to teenagers, the programs are designed to inspire imagination, aid in skill development, and Royal Caribbean has special nights for each age group. Crayola ® and Fisher-Price ® team up with Royal Caribbean to engage and entertain children of all ages. Royal Caribbean offers Sitters at Sea ® for a nominal fee if parents would like the evening to themselves.

There is plenty to do for Mum and Dad, as well as adults, couples and singles. With an onboard casino, a full facility spa, and exercise centre, adults can pursue their own interests and engage in peaceful relaxation services. There is also a mini-golf course, an ice skating rink, and the signature rock-climbing wall. One can dance the night away in the ballroom or catch a Broadway-style show in the theatre.

The cabins are spacious, and well appointed gourmet chefs not only prepare delectable meals, but also offer room service until midnight, also there is always time for a stroll along the deck to admire the stars.

Royal Caribbean offers a dream holiday for anyone to some of the most exotic locations in the world.

If you are considering a holiday in North America, why not visit the two vibrant cities of Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia?

Vancouver is a cultural jewel that holidaymakers will love. Stroll through Gastown, the national historic site where the city began. Numerous shops, cafes and galleries line the cobbled streets. For a more modern take, spend some time shopping in the fashion district of Robson Street. Take a water ferry to Granville Island, where you can sample treats from a variety of food vendors and peruse local artisan’s stalls. The city has everything from street carts selling fusion takeaways to fine dining with spectacular views. The city centre offers many accommodation options, from budget motels to opulent suites with all mod cons. Getting around is easy, thanks to an efficient with local bus service and light rail transit system.

Just a 1½hour ferry ride from Vancouver is Victoria, the City of Gardens. Sitting at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, this area merges North American, British and Asian influences into a vibrant setting for a holiday. Consider a walk along the Inner Harbour, which bustles with activity all day long. Tourists and locals mingle among the native artisans and buskers. Stroll north along Government Street to stock up on souvenirs, visit the second oldest Chinatown in North America or sneak down Fantang Alley, the narrowest street in Canada, once known for its opium dens. A short bus ride takes you to Butchart Gardens, a floral paradise. Victoria is well known for its holiday rental options, from bed and breakfasts to historic hotels.

While some people may frown at the idea of a discount cruise because it conjures up a mental picture of substandard service, cramped cabins and a second-rate holiday, the truth is that discount cruises offer a dazzling array of first-class global destinations and excellent amenities.

The tough economical climate of the last few years means that people are trying to get the best cruise deals for their hard-earned money and cruise lines have stepped forward with some amazing packages.

Onboard, passengers enjoy a high standard of living with comfortable accommodation, world-class entertainment, sumptuous meals and buffets, and a wide range of activities. Add to that, ports of call in exotic locations and land interior excursions into historical and pristine locales, and it is clear that cheap cruises are only cheap when it comes to the price.

Most of the discounted cruises are available in the off-season. The best way to secure a cheap cruise is to plan early and have an itinerary in mind. Plan early and know what you are looking for in a cruise package, including desired destination, cruise line preference, budget, type of cruise (hybrid, theme-based, etc.) and type of cabin.

Avoid cruises around seasonal festivities and school holidays for the cheap price. Check into cruise line specials and do not be afraid to try to negotiate better charges and fees.

Remember, the best deals go quickly. Plan ahead and you will have the opportunity to arrange the cruise of a lifetime.

St. Petersburg is one of the most important cities in Europe, but for much of the twentieth century it was closed to travel from outside the Soviet Union.  Since the early 1990s however, this city, formerly called Leningrad, has been a popular tourist destination for residents of the U.K. 

Originally founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great in 1703, St. Petersburg served as the capital of the Russian Empire until 1918 when the Bolshevik Revolution moved government operations to Moscow, where they remain to this day.  St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and home to the largest art museum in the entire world, the Hermitage.  In the Hermitage, visitors can see not only an enormous collection of art representing some of the finest artists in Europe and Russia, but also the interior decorations of the royal residences of the tsars, who were thrown from power in 1917 and remain deposed to this day.

In terms of culture, St. Petersburg has often been referred to as the most Westernized city in Russia.  Even though Russia itself bridges Europe and Asia, St. Petersburg strikes visitors as a typical European city with ornate buildings, public spaces and a high degree of attention to the visual and performing arts.  There are more than 200 museums in the city, including some that used to be the homes of famous residents of the city such as noted novelists Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

South Africa is one of the most diverse countries to which travellers are likely to travel. In addition to a variety of ethnic groups and cultures, the country also has many eco-systems. It offers something for everyone, regardless of whether visitors are staying in a city or taking in the wild areas. Several languages are in use, but English is widely understood and spoken.

There are several regions in the country, each with their own special attractions. Cape Town is home to the Cape of Good Hope and Table Mountain, both of which were famous early landmarks. The Port Elizabeth area has some of the best beaches, and is close to some nice national parks. These include Addo Elephant National Park, as well as Tsitsikamma National Park. Durban is a good area to go to see the Drakensberg range, as well as the Tugela Falls.

Several different types of shopping experiences are available. Currency can be exchanged at a bank, or traveller’s cheques may be used. In urban areas, ATM’s are found easily. Many chain and independent shops available compare to what is available in the UK. Items can also be purchased from street vendors or markets, with both allowing bartering.

The food choices are diverse. Many restaurants serve traditional dishes that have been eaten by local tribes and people of Afrikaner descent for generations. These include different types of meat roasted over wood fires, sausages, and stews.

Several European hotel chains also have locations in South Africa. Travellers can also try to find self-catering rentals or inns. Backpacking lodges and camp or caravan sites are also available.

The counter-culture city of the 1960s and 70s made an indelible impression on the world with its attitude and music, political liberalism and dynamic theatre, all to the backdrop of a stunning ocean seascape and mountain landscape. San Francisco, the ultimate West Coast city in the United States, is a destination of choice for hundreds of thousands of global tourists, providing high quality accommodation and restaurants at the top end and good, solid places to stay and eat for visitors on a tight budget.

The icon of San Francisco is the Golden Gate Bridge, featured in countless movies and a backdrop to millions of photographs. Less well-known may be the Golden Gate Park, a vast and free family-friendly area with gardens and lakes, a children’s playground and a buffalo paddock among the attractions.

Few movies set in San Francisco are complete without a shot of the trams going up and down the switchback roads leading to the harbour, and no tourist will want to miss the experience. Down at the harbour is the famous Fisherman’s Wharf, packed with restaurants offering classic seafood and shops with a huge choice of clothing, souvenirs and food to buy.

Boat trips are popular, with the former prison on Alcatraz Island providing a fascinating glimpse into history, and there are many opportunities to travel from the city up the Pacific coast road to witness the contrast between the mountain range to the east and the rolling ocean waves to the west.

Seychelles luxury holidays combine spectacular island scenery, a glorious tropical climate and prestigious accommodation suitable for all types of holidaymaker – couples, families, groups or the single traveller. Rich in a culture influenced by European, African and Asian peoples, the Seychellois culture is a vibrant mix of art, cuisine, music and dance. Architectural designs of traditional buildings are representative of colonial British and French heritage. Seychellois cuisine is a blend of African, Indian, English and Chinese, represented in fine-dining restaurants prepared by world-class chefs or in more relaxed café settings.        

Denis Island is a private island, formerly a coconut plantation, and is a 30-minute flight from Mahé.  This location is an ideal base for deep-sea fishing, snorkelling and diving, along with windsurfing, canoeing and tennis.  Record big game catches have been made on excursions from this island and it is one of the finest diving regions in the Seychelles.  Relaxation is found on the white sandy beaches. The island has lush vegetation and is home to tortoises and nesting sea birds.

Frégate Island is a private, exclusive and isolated island on the northern edge of the Seychelles, just 20 minutes from Mahé by helicopter.  Comprising private villas, including a presidential villa, this is ideal for travellers seeking a luxury holidays with privacy and tranquillity. This 3 km 2 island provides seven stunning beaches and crystal-clear turquoise sea.  With flora and fauna unequalled anywhere in the world, this is the destination of choice for the most discerning traveller. The island boasts its own marina with a fleet of sailing craft and deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are also available.

Cambodia’s capital is an exciting and dynamic mix of old meets new, and east meets fading colonial west.  It is a burgeoning metropolis, the face of which is changing at warp speed.  However, the city’s streets are still filled with ‘cyclos’ and ‘motos’, and the city still retains its traditional warmth.  This is mainly down to the Khmer people themselves, whose friendly faces will make even the weariest traveller feel right at home.

The main tourist attraction in the city is the Royal Palace.  A lush display of fine, grand Khmer architecture nestled right by the riverside, and the main residence of the royal family, the Royal Palace houses the Silver Pagoda which features 5,000-plus silver tiles adorning the floor.  Sadly, many of these are covered up to protect them, but it is still worth a visit to see the many beautiful statues of Buddha that this building contains.

The recent history of Phnom Penh (and Cambodia as a whole) serves to provide a number of the main must-see destinations when visiting this city.  As macabre and sobering as it is, you really can’t visit this city without taking a trip to Tuol Sleng Prison, otherwise known as S-21, and the Choung Ek Killing Fields just outside the city.  These are the grim reminders of the rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, which saw nearly 25% of the population of Cambodia fall victim to one of the worst genocides in the history of man.  Learning about the terrible events which took place in Cambodia during this time will elevate your appreciation of this truly amazing country and the resilience and kindness of its people. 

Phnom Penh is one destination that should not be missed.

There are three well-known and respected resorts in America which are well worth considering when planning a ski holiday.

Vail

Vail resort is one of the largest in America and is modeled on the Alpine resorts in Europe. There are 193 runs and 75 lifts along the valley, with 317 km of off-piste skiing. The Vail village, modeled on an Austrian town, has 70 restaurants and plenty of bars and clubs. Add to this a multitude of shops, and Vail offers a good mix of skiing and relaxing.

Breckenridge

The Breckenridge resort recently has received a massive financial investment of $50 million to improve the pistes’ accommodation and amenities. There are 57 lifts and 139 different runs, most of them advanced, but there is a healthy dose of beginner and intermediate runs. The local town has lots of shops, some art galleries and more than fifty restaurants, bars and discos that stay open until the early hours, all of which can enhance one’s downtime, after a day of skiing. With 240 km of off-piste skiing, there is plenty for the experienced and inexperienced alike.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe has all the benefits of a ski resort, with the addition of Nevada casino-lifestyle all around the lake itself. Lake Tahoe offers 84 runs and 48 lifts along with 259 km of off-piste skiing. There is a huge selection of shops, casinos and bars to choose from after skiing. So, if it’s skiing with stunning views that you are after, then Lake Tahoe is your best choice.

These are only three of the large number, of resorts in America and, when planning a ski holiday, there will be plenty of last minute ski deals for the 2011-2012 season available.