St Patricks Day is celebrated all around the world, but nowhere more than in St Patricks home country of Ireland, all around the emerald isle festivities will be springing up before, on and after the 15th of March, from Dublin to Galway and Belfast to Cork there are many festivities to be seen. If you want to experience the best of St Patricks Day then take a trip there and enjoy all it has to offer, you can get great deals on flights to Belfast from most UK airports, Belfast is a great base to start your exploration of Ireland and its festivities.

St Patrick was actually born across the water from Ireland in Wales to wealthy parents at the end of the 4th Century, when he was 16 a young Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders and shipped across the Irish Sea. Here he spent the next six years in captivity working as a shepherd, lonely and away from his family Patrick found solace in his religion and so he became a devout Christian. Six years later Patrick escaped from his captors after he heard God’s voice telling him it was time to leave Ireland and so made his way back home, where he had another vision this time from an angel who told him he should go back to preach Christianity to the Irish. After studying to be a priest for 14 years Patrick returned to Ireland where he built churches and spread the Christian faith for the next 30 years until his death on March 17, 460AD. After his death March 17 became the day set aside for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Because so much of the Irish population lives all around the world many people who wish to become ‘Irish for the day’ have opted for the green of the Irish flag to express their Irishness, as well as using the shamrock as an emblem. St Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of The Holy Trinity, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. These celebrations are no different in Ireland, this year St Patrick’s Day Festival (March 12-17) in Dublin is celebrated in style, with music, street theatre, family carnivals and up to 4000 performers joining the fun. This year Limerick will host the SkyFest, which is a massive fireworks display over the River Shannon. Belfast offers the annual St Patricks carnival parade with lots of entertainment on offer as well as the Guinness St Patricks Day Race Meeting which is one of the biggest days of the racing calendar.

With Mother’s day coming up in a couple of weeks there is a great way to treat her and show her how much she means to you by taking her to a spa for the day. Spending a whole day at a day spa London will really make her feel loved as well has leaving her feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

There are many treatments to choose from like a traditional Thai massage or experience a Thai herbal scrub, you can also treat your weary hands and feet to the ancient technique of reflexology which not only makes your feet fell better but the whole of your body as well a manicure and pedicure to glam up your hands and feet. Many spas also offer use of relaxation pools and steam rooms where you can rejuvenate and hydrate your skin.

To finish the day off you can also take your mother out for a lovely meal at a fancy restaurant so she will feel fully appreciated after a day of indulgence at a day spa London.

Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and it is also the largest city that has a substantial history from disruption, conflict, and destruction called the Troubles. Now it has undergone sustained period of calm, free from the intense political violence of former years, and substantial economic and commercial growth. The past history and current arts, entertainment and attracts make it a great cultural city to visit as well as easy to get to from mainland UK with flights to Belfast International Airport.

When visiting Belfast you will never be short of things to do and if you’re only going for a weekend break you may find yourself wanting to spend more time there. You can go to world class venues such as the Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey Arena and enjoy lots of exciting concerts, plays and exhibitions and take in the historical and cultural to the scientific and literary in the city that inspired Narnia. You can also take in some great architecture such as Belfast Cathedral/St Anne’s Cathedral or enjoy the natural beauty at one of many parks in Belfast such as Falls Park which is popular with families, children and sports teams and Groveland’s which is popular with gardeners due to its wide variety of trees, shrubs, conifers, heathers, bedding displays and lawns which provide interest and colour throughout the year.

Belfast also has an abundance of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs where you can sample the best of what Belfast has to offer from smart and stylish restaurants to historical hostelries and from gastro pubs and bars to funk and happening nightclubs there is something for everyone.

If you fancy a fun break away for the weekend you can get some great deals on cheap flights to either Belfast International Airport or George Best Belfast City Airport, both which have excellent transport links.

Belfast City Hall

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One of the world’s most recognisable ports, with world famous features such as The Harbour Bridge and distinctive Opera House Sydney is a vibrant, happening city and a great place to start your journey. On an Australasia cruise holiday you get to experience a whole range of place, people and cultures from the magnificent Opera House, lively streets and beautiful beaches in Sydney to the croc` infested Kakadu wilderness which is reachable from Darwin. You can also enjoy the Great Barrier Reef which is a diver`s or snorkeler’s paradise. Full of colourful fish and coral, this underwater world is as exciting and varied as you’ll find anywhere and is also world renowned.

After exploring the majestic sights of Australia the cruise will then take you onto New Zealand which offers some of the most stunning scenery and natural beauty you will ever see. Like the mud pools of Rotorua or the abundant marine life at Bay of Islands where you can also learn about New Zealand’s colonial history. New Zealand also offers a vibrant city life with Auckland New Zealand’s largest, most pulsating city with plenty to see and do.

If you fancy a cultural and exciting cruise where you will learn and see a lot you can find great cruise deals to Australasia.

Sydney Opera House

Picture courtesy of Linh_rOm

Manchester’s newest development is The Quays, once the Salford Quays and Trafford Wharf which shipped cotton goods to the world, the redeveloped waterfront now offers architecture, art, culture, drama, sport and shopping to peoples from across the globe. It’s a 10 minute drive from Manchester Piccadilly Station and is also easy to get to from Manchester airport.

Manchester has a reputation to be a party culture city filled with lively bars, pubs and clubs but beyond that there are many great things to explore and The Quays is one of those great places. Its main feature is the multi award winning Imperial War Museum North which was designed by Daniel Libeskind and shows the story of the effects of war from 1914 to the present on ordinary people from across the former commonwealth. The museum also offered visitors the chance to take part in supervised handling of items from the collection there are plenty of interactive exhibits and the hourly audio visual shows.

At the other side of the Manchester Ship canal opposite the Imperial War Museum North is The Lowry Centre which two theatres that provides a diverse visual arts programme from opera, West End shows and ballet to panto, live music and stand-up comedy, while the studio provides space for staging innovative and daring theatre from new and emerging companies. As well as an arts programme The Lowry is also home to a free to enter gallery showcasing an impressive collection of L S Lowry’s industrial landscapes, film and information on the Salford artist.

Along with great places to visit there are also plenty of places to eat and drink across the Quays and many places to shop if you want a break from taking in all the history. There are also many hotels scattered across the area so you will easily find somewhere to stay and you can find great deals on flights to Manchester.

Lowry Theatre

Picture courtesy of jlcwalker

Beirut has survived a decade and a half of conflict in the once ruined City Centre a huge reconstruction project is underway to create a new commercial and residential district for the 21st century, improving banking, construction, import-export and service industries. You can get flights to Beirut’s newly renovated Rafic Hariri International Airport which has transport links to the city by service cab or taxi cab.

Beirut has lots of ancient history, it stands on the site of a very ancient settlement going back at least 5,000 years and has been continuously inhabited for millennia, until recently most of the few archaeological discoveries in Beirut were accidental, until conflict ended in 1991 and more archaeological investigations could take place. Beirut has lots of Roman sites to visit like the Group of five columns, Roman Exedra, Roman baths and many floor mosaics. As well as lots of Roman archaeology there is also lots of medieval buildings to admire.

Beirut also has plenty of entertainment and was named one of the ten liveliest cities in the world by Lonely Planet, thanks to its night life districts which have many pubs and clubs. You can choose from a large selection of local restaurants specialising in Lebanese food as well as western restaurants.

The street markets of Beirut off many traditional crafts, high fashion, jewellery and your everyday needs, all are easy to find. There are also many art shows and exhibitions going on all year round with hundreds of galleries in the suburbs of Beirut.

Beirut is an ideal city to visit it has a wide variety of mixed culture including Greeks, Romans and Arabs you can easily get to Beirut to experience it all with cheap flights departing from many of the UK’s major airports.

Beirut sunset

Picture courtesy of austinevan

If you’re looking to treat one of your best girlfriends for their birthday an exciting city break would be an ideal treat which they would be truly grateful for and London is a great destination to visit, you can indulge yourselves in a spot of shopping, a spa day, gourmet meals and a west end show.

The capital is easy to get to and the most stress free way is by train, all the major London stations have good links to get all around the city no matter where you’re staying. If you’re going for a weekend break you want to get the most out of your stay and one of the most important things to experience (well for women really) is the shopping. You have a wide choice of designer shops to choose from as well as world famous department stores, Harvey Nicholls and Selfridges as well as all the high street stores you can think of.

After spending a whole day on your feet shopping probably carrying many bags of clothes and shoes you would probably grateful to spend a day spa London being pampered. There are many treatments to choose from that will relax you and leave you rejuvenated like a traditional Thai massage London or experience a Thai herbal scrub, you can also treat your weary hands and feet to the ancient technique of reflexology which not only makes your feet fell better but the whole of your body as well a manicure and pedicure to glam up your hands and feet.

Once you have been rejuvenated you can then go and enjoy a gourmet meal in a 5* London restaurant but be warned many ‘it’ places to eat require booking in advance to get in. After which you can go see any number of west end shows like Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Mama Mia and Dirty Dancing, a perfect way to end a great birthday weekend of shopping, relaxation, great food and a exciting show!

Dammam is the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and is also the largest city in the Eastern Province and third largest in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Dammam Port is the largest on the Persian Gulf and is second to Jeddah’s port for import-export traffic. As with many places in Saudi Arabia Dammam in the past relied heavily on the sale of oil, in this oil-rich region, however the city of Dammam now attracts a large number of tourists thanks to its moderate climate. It is also easy and economic to get to with cheap flights to Dammam departing from most UK airports.

Some of the beautiful coastal beaches on the Gulf include the Half Moon Bay which is one of the most popular beaches especially for the young who enjoy lots of water sports. There are also many tourist spots to enjoy, one of most famous tourist attractions in Dammam is the Dammam Corniche which features some amazing natural beauty, lots of relaxation and calmness as well as activities by the sea. Dammam also offers the towering Coral Island where family fun comes first with plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy and lots to see like the lighthouse where you can climb up to the top and see out into the Persian Gulf or you can relax with a spot of fishing. Or you can roam around King Fahad’s Park which covers an area 1,120 million square meters, and is one of the largest parks in the region and has a number of artificial lakes and green spaces as well as large waterfalls, fountains and children’s play areas.

Dammam is also popular for shopping due to many shopping malls that feature a good choice of diverse goods and many well known brands as well as a number of independent retail outlets. You can also find plenty of traditional markets selling a wide range of local produce and individual hand made goods. There are not lots of up market restaurants in Dammam as many places tend to feature speciality local food which is defiantly worth a try, they do however have a few well known fast food outlets.

Quite a few new hotels have now sprung up in Dammam since it became more popular with tourists, although many have modern amenities they have still been built in a traditional style in keeping with many parts of Dammam.

Moscow is the capital city of Russia it is also the largest city as well as the largest metropolitan area in Europe and ranks among the largest urban areas in the world. Moscow is home to one of the largest numbers of billionaires in the world, not surprisingly it is also a major political and financial centre.

Some of Russia’s earliest roots are in Moscow, the Kremlin still shows off the grandeur of Muscovy’s grand princes and St Basil’s Cathedral shows the defeat of the Tatars and a bit closer to time now on Red Square, the founder of the Soviet state lies embalmed. A once oppressed state Moscow is now moving into the 21st century, embracing the global culture of the modern era and becoming a must visit destination. Which means it is now much easier to get  flights to Moscow departing from most major UK airports.

A good time to visit Moscow is in late spring when the city comes to life with flowers ready for their festive city days. There is plenty for all to enjoy, Russia is world renowned for its architecture with such glorious buildings as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, with its graceful domes, as well as the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Seven Sisters. There are also many parks and gardens in Moscow including 4 botanical gardens, meaning it is a very green city compared to others of the same size. You can also find many museums showing the history of Russia and its social struggles as well as galleries featuring many famous artists.

Moscow is also known for its vibrant night life one of the most popular nightlife areas is around Tverskaya Street full of with many expensive, luxurious bars and restaurants here you can party with the rich new Russians and celebrities. On one of the busiest shopping streets in Moscow you can find boutique stores such as Bulgari, Tiffany & Co., Armani, Prada and Bentley.

There are five primary commercial airports serving Moscow with many serving carriers which means its good to get cheap flights here and all the airports have good transport links.

St Basil's Cathedral

Picture courtesy of thisisbossi

USA – New York   The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Time Square is the most famous New Year’s Eve celebration in the world and is defiantly a memorable way to bring in the New Year. You can either stand on Times Square to watch the ball drop with street entertainment or enjoy festivities from many of the restaurants, bars and clubs most of which you have to book in advance.

UK – Edinburgh New Year Celebrations, Hogmanay is probably the greatest celebrations in the world and this year is no different with a 5 day celebration spectacular including the New Years Eve Street Party and Concert in the Garden this year with Madness and Noisettes. There are also plenty of other things to keep you busy from day to night with the Hogmanay Carnival, Winter Wonderland Ice Rink , The Keilidh and a Candlelit Concert are just a few cumulating in the Midnight Fireworks and Worlds Biggest Auld Lang Syne.

Australia – Sydney There is plenty going on in Sydney with pre show entertainment starting in the afternoon then, family fireworks at 9pm, after that, a harbour of light parade and finally a magnificent midnight fireworks display across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All can be seen and enjoyed from many places across Sydney.

India – Goa   Goa, with its inherent party culture is the best place usher in a brand new year, with Hotels and resorts all decked up in anticipation, but the only real place to spend your New Years Eve is on the beaches, the preferred venues for New Year celebrations, you will notice that Goa celebrations are much less organised and structured than other places and they will be found partying till dawn.

Brazil – Rio With the most famous celebration in Brazil taking place on Copacabana Beach leading the celebrations with lots of music shows, dancers and glamorous parties to be seen and a 20 minute fireworks display, you can also go to Ipanema or Barra da Tijuca for festivities.

Edinburgh Street Party

Picture Courtesy of Laurencea