Gothenburg, or Göteborg, is one of the largest cities in Sweden.  It showcases a delightful mix of old and new culture, making it a delight for tourists.  Located on the country’s western coast, Gothenburg has an incredibly high population of young people, thanks to its renowned Gothenburg University.

When visiting Gothenburg, there is so much to see that it might be best to pinpoint a few highlights before setting out.  Ancient castles sit amongst modern, industrial areas and the city features scores of museums of all types.  For a quick getaway from the constant bustle of the city, without having to go too far, there are plenty of beautiful gardens and parks open to the public.  The sea plays a large part in Swedish life, so it is not unusual to find numerous water-based activities such as canoeing, guided tours by boat, and chartered yachts.  Shopaholics should head to Nordstan, the primary shopping area.  There, shoppers can find international stores as well as smaller local shops.  Gothenburg hosts several festivals and sports events every year too, including a film festival, an air show, marathons, and Christmas festivities.  In terms of food and restaurants, there is a massive range to choose from for different budgets and international or local cuisines.  A quick lunch is usually available for less than 80 Swedish krona (around £8), while dinner menus at upscale restaurants can range as high as 800 Swedish krona (around £80) depending on the location.

There are plenty of ways to get around in Gothenburg.  Tourists who plan on staying close within the city will be able to manage by foot, bus, train or ferry.  The public transport system is extremely well networked and it is quite easy to get to most places.  Bicycles and cars can also be hired at affordable prices.

Taking last minute cruises to the Arctic is the perfect option for travellers who are interested in nature, and is a great way to see fascinating wildlife that is not found in other parts of the world.  Travellers won’t have to worry about rough conditions during their holiday, because the ships are designed to keep them warm and comfortable during the voyage.  These cruises tend to be most popular during the summer months, when Arctic locations have 24 hours of daylight.  Breathtaking scenery can also be enjoyed during the autumn months.

Interesting destinations

There are a number of fascinating destinations that are commonly visited on Arctic cruises, although these destinations may vary depending on the specific cruise.  The North Pole is one of the most popular by far, and many book a cruise specifically to see this area.  Northern Greenland is also a popular destination and offers abundant opportunities for viewing a diverse assortment of wildlife.  Travellers are able to see polar bears, several different types of seals, walruses, as well as a large assortment of birds, and can go out on the water in a zodiac boat or walk on the thick ice for a closer look and good photo opportunities.  In many cases, experts will be on board that will be able to explain everything travellers want to know about the areas and wildlife.

The ships

One of the advantages of Arctic cruises is that smaller ships, usually holding around 100 guests, are typically used.  These smaller vessels can get into many areas that larger ships would be unable to access.  Passengers generally feel as though their needs are very well attended to, and the excursions have a more personalised feel than can be found on the huge ships typically used for Caribbean or Mediterranean cruises.  Educational programmes are frequently offered on the ships in place of nightlife activities.  In many cases there is a single dining area which fosters a feeling of community aboard ship.  Some of the larger ships may also offer spa areas or exercise rooms.

Planning a family holiday can be almost as exciting as taking one.  When parents are looking for a holiday that will appeal both to them and their younger children, a cruise can be an ideal solution.  A cruise holiday with young kids can offer parents much needed relaxation while the children are off enjoying activities that the cruise line has designed specifically for them.

Family themed cruises have recently become a very popular choice for families as the amenities offered on these types of cruises are specifically designed to cater to kids as young as three months old.  Babies and toddlers can enjoy swings and bouncy chairs in the nursery, while children who are slightly older can enjoy expansive, supervised children’s areas which have been designed just for kids.  Parents of very young travellers will also find that some cruise lines have teamed up with companies such as Fisher Price to offer very young children a top quality cruise experience.  These cruises sometimes offer babies and toddlers their own fun with Aqua-Babies and Aqua-Tots programmes. 

There are dozens of wonderful activities aimed at keeping the curious and energetic little ones busy.  They can participate in pizza and cookie making parties, make their own videos in supervised classes, and play a huge variety of computer games to name a just a few of the activities most commonly offered by the major cruise lines.  Even if the kids in your family are teenagers, most family themed cruises will have something to offer them.

Cruise ships that cater to families will usually offer family-friendly staterooms that have been designed with extra amenities such as pullout couches and divided bathrooms. 

While certainly a lot of fun for the kids, adults are also catered to on family themed cruises.  Many ships offer adult-only pool areas that are fully equipped with outdoor bars, hot tubs, and coffee shops.  Some ships will also have an adults-only entertainment zone where mom and dad can have some fun while the kids sleep snug in their beds.

Italy can offer high altitude skiing and a fabulous network of pistes, complete with snowboarding options. Ski holidays in 2012 to Italy provide a great choice, no matter what age or skill level: beginners and experts are catered for in equal measure.

It is possible to pre-book hire of equipment, ski passes and lessons beforehand so as to make the most of time spent in the resort. Italian resorts provide instructors who deliver excellent lessons to improve skiing and snowboarding skills, and these are suitable for all abilities.

Resorts and Accommodation

Ski holidays 2012 in Italy offer not only great resorts but also excellent accommodation. The choice of accommodation is considerable; there is everything from great apartments and catered chalets to quality luxury hotels. 

Italian resorts also offer great facilities for equipment hire, ski school activities and bargain ski passes.

Some Places to go

Arabba offers excellent, challenging pistes and the quite stunning slopes on the impressive Marmolada glacier are easily accessible although these tend to be favoured by more experienced skiers. Additionally, not a great distance away is The Hidden Valley. 

Champoluc provides access to the ski area of Monterosa. This is well-known, as it is one of the largest ski areas in Italy and stretches across the three valleys of Alagna, Champoluc and Gressoney. Here, there is a great choice of high altitude skiing and also plenty of challenges for skiers.

Arguably one of the finest cruise ships on the oceans today, the Seabourn Sojourn is the flagship of the Seabourn name.  Elegant and luxurious, the ship offers cruises to every continent including South America and the Mediterranean.  The Seabourn group has since added other cruise ships to a sterling fleet but the Seabourn with its quiet, private and unobtrusive hospitality remains the choice for the discerning traveller. 

Overview and Cruises 

Sophistication and opulence are the hallmarks of a cruise aboard the Seabourn Sojourn.  With 225 tastefully furnished suites, the Seabourn Sojourn has won several luxury awards including the ‘Best for Luxury’ and ‘’Best for Spa Lovers’ from Cruise Critic.  Several publications including Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure have recognised the Seabourn Sojourn’s comfort, hospitality, privacy and unparalleled service.  The Seabourne Sojourn has been in operation since 2010 and has completed a 111-day cruise around the world in 2011.  Seabourn offers cruises to several ports on six continents – Arabia, Africa and India, the Mediterranean, South and Central America, Northern Europe and the South Pacific.  The Sojourn has cruises that include the Patagonia And Inca cruise as well as its famed Atlantic and Mediterranean cruises. 

Suites and Facilities

As well as 8 guest decks, a spa, six whirlpools, two large swimming pools and the very popular Patio bar and grill, the ship also has its own nine-hole putting course.  The 225 suites have access to the central Seabourn Square – a central location with a coffee shop and library.  The Colonnade restaurant’s marvellous ambience and gourmet cuisine makes it a popular choice with travellers.  All suites have their own flat-screen television, stationery, fine toiletries, direct dial telephone, radio and electronic safe. Guests will be pampered with aromatherapy baths, the latest movies on DVD and soft Egyptian linens.
 
With several successful cruises, superb facilities, elite clientele and unmatched customer service, the Seabourn Sojourn continues to gather accolades as one of the best cruise ships afloat. 

Hotel accommodation in Ho Chi Minh City is plentiful and priced to suit any budget.  Visitors can usually find a room upon arrival.  If booking once there, guests can check out the location and the room, then, if it is satisfactory, negotiate a price. 

Many hotel rooms include breakfast, so if you prefer to dine out, price conscious tourists might like to negotiate an even larger discount.  Unless you really like the first room, ask to see more rooms as many hotels have a variety of sizes, configurations and noise levels.

If your stay, however, falls upon a date of one of Vietnam’s public holidays, especially TET, then pre-booking is definitely recommended.  If staying at any of the nearby popular beach resorts such as Vung Tau, on a weekend or during a public holiday, book well in advance.

Those wanting to save money should head for the areas around Pham Ngu Lao (the backpacker district) or Ben Thanh Market, whereas people seeking more comfort will be happier around Dong Khoi Street.  All three areas are close to many of the key tourist attractions.

Travel insurance is vital for any trip overseas, but for those budgeting for cheap holidays, it’s yet another expense which has to be taken into account.  UK residents are entitled to medical treatment in all EU countries which they might be visiting. It is also available at reduced rates and free in certain situations.  All you need to do is apply for the European Health Insurance Card, otherwise known as the EHIC.

Apart from all EU countries, the EHIC covers Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and applies to any treatment provided under those countries’ health services.  The EHIC is available free of charge to all UK residents over 16 and is valid for five years, at which point it should be renewed.  All family members need their own card, and applications can be submitted through the EHIC website.

The EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance and it is recommended that all holidaymakers also purchase adequate insurance as not all medical costs will be covered by the EHIC.  In fact, some insurance companies insist on the EHIC, and may offer additional discounts to holders.

Gunung Mulu National Park is Sarawak’s biggest national park. Sarawak is located on the island of Borneo, near the border of Brunei. The park was named after Mount Mulu (Gunung Mulu), which rises over an accumulation of sandstone, 2,376 metres above sea level.

Unique Airport

The small airport in Gunung Mulu National Park is carved out of the Borneo jungle and is located just outside the national park boundary.  It is the gateway to the Gunung Mulu National Park. There is resort accommodation in the national park, but since there are no roads to the airport, most tour operators pick up passengers and bring them to their respective destinations. Independent travellers can take a boat ride to the park headquarters.

Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu is famous for its spectacular limestone caves.  The Deer Cave is the world’s largest cave passage, which is so huge it can contain London’s St Paul’s Cathedral five times.  A 50-meter high mini waterfall cascading from the roof near the place called “Garden of Eden” is one of the most spectacular destinations in the cave. The world’s largest natural rock chamber, the Sarawak Chamber, could house a 40 Boeing 747 aircraft.

Many of the cave systems are accessible only to professional spelunkers but visitors can enter four well-lit caves that are open daily. A longboat trip takes tourists to Clearwater Cave, the longest cave system in Southeast Asia.  A plank walk leads to Deer Cave, where the magnificent sight of three million bats coming out of the caves for their nocturnal forage can be witnessed daily at sunset.

Enjoying your favorite form of entertainment while at sea can be a great way to enhance your holiday. For those who like to play the slots, try their hand at card playing or their luck at a variety of other casino games, there are cruise lines that cater for the type of passenger that loves to gamble.

While you are in search of cruise deals, consider an exciting Norwegian cruise. It’s not a secret that Norwegian poker tournaments are some of the most lucrative in the world. While at sea it is possible to participate in some of the most exhilarating card games you will have ever experienced, such as Texas hold’em.

Many of the cruise ships that head to Norwegian waters are the best cruise ships for poker players. Some are well known for their high-rolling Monte Carlo theme nights. Many of these ships are fully equipped with blackjack tables and slot machines. After a great win at cards passengers can enjoy the after-hour bars that includes a cigar lounge and live piano bar.

Hermanus, located on the southern coast of South Africa, is renowned for offering the best land-based whale watching opportunities to be found in the world.  This coastal town is known as the ‘Whale Capital of the World’, as well as the ‘Riviera of the South’.  Hermanus is located on the Whale Coast Route near Cape Town, South Africa and enjoys a Mediterranean-like climate.
 
Southern Right and Humpback whale sightings usually begin in the middle of May each year, and by September visitors will be able to see the magnificent creatures gently floating within a few feet of the shoreline.  The whales come so close to shore that the callosities on their heads can be seen quite clearly; these callosities form unique patterns on each whale, and are the whale equivalent of a human fingerprint.  These gentle giants will usually come in close to the shoreline to give birth, and whale watchers can gaze in silent awe as this miracle of nature unfolds before them.
 
There is a unique cliff path that meanders for about 12 kilometres along the Hermanus coastline.  This coastal path offers spectacular vantage points from which to see the whales frolicking and relaxing among the otters, seals, and dolphins that also inhabit the bay.  While walking along this path visitors can also admire the colourful coastal vegetation, and observe rock rabbits darting to and fro.  At low tide, whale watchers can stand on rocks that are nearly at sea level and be up close and personal with the gentle creatures that have migrated from Antarctica.  By December, most of them will have begun their journey back home.

Hermanus is about a one and a half hour drive from Cape Town International Airport and can be reached either via scenic coastal Clarence Drive, or by taking a route which travels over a spectacular mountaintop.