As one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, (attracting more than 50 million visitors a year) Spain which is also a top destination for UK tourists who wish to enjoy the sun, sand and sangria, has plenty to offer no matter what holiday your after.

For those who want easy going family holidays where all you needs are catered for then you don’t need to look further than the popular resorts such as Tenerife, Gran Canaria or Lanzarote which offer plenty of family orientated activities. If you want a faced paced party holiday then you need to be going to Spain’s world famous party capital, Ibiza or the lively resort of Magaluf. And for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the busier tourist resorts you can look to stay in some traditional holiday rentals in Spain further off the beaten track such as Correalejo National Park, and the resorts of La Gomera and La Palma.

There is also more to Spain than the golden beaches, if you travel a little further in land you will find a country steeped in history with a rich culture as well as cities which boast world’s finest architecture as well as breath taking scenery. Here you also get to enjoy the real Spain, with its sights, sounds and tastes that are a world away from the bright tacky lights and British orientated food found in many of the resorts.  If you stay in holiday villas further inland you will get to enjoy the real Spain, in villages the feel like they have stood still in time.

The Costa del Sol region in southern Spain that is made up of small coastal towns and communities which stretch from Almeria to Tarifa and this area is a much favoured holiday destination here in Europe, every year thousands of people travel here to enjoy a holiday in the sun. The Costa del Sol is an all year round destination with a large offering of fine, sandy beaches and calm Mediterranean waters, with a mild climate that means you can enjoy the beaches and a wide variety of outdoor and water activities all year round.

Torremolinos Beach - Costa del Sol

Picture courtesy of manuelfloresy

For an exciting family holiday or a relaxing get away break the resorts of the Costa del Sol like Benalmadena, Fuengirola Torremolinos, and Marbella, will have something for everyone no matter what you are looking for. There are many holiday villas in the Costa del Sol that can sleep anyone from couples to large families, either as part of a resort complex or somewhere a bit quieter out of the way. You can choose to stay self catering or go for some which are part of a complex that offer bed and breakfast, which ever best suits your needs. Many of the resorts in this area are easy to get to, especially with the new Autopista del Sol granting access from Malaga to Estepona and beyond to Gibraltar. The International Airport has regular flights to most key cities and is located just 10 minutes from Malaga City center, and within half an hour by car from most other popular resorts on the coast.

Marbella - Costa del Sol

Picture courtesy of ppz

The Costa del Sol has become one of the most developed part of the coast, with many of the town been developed to cater for the tourists needs near your holiday villa or cottage, many have modernized their boardwalks, or ‘ paseo maritimos. The area boasts plenty of tourist attractions but it is also known as “The Costa del Golf,” thanks to the many golf courses that line the area. If golfing isn’t your thing there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained when you’re not relaxing on the beaches, for families and children there are theme parks, including water parks, safari parks and go-karting. There are also many beautifully landscaped public gardens to enjoy in many of the resorts, so you can take time to unwind.

Torremolinos

Picture courtesy of Gert Mewes

If you want to take your family away this summer for an exciting action packed holiday this year then there are a huge number of destinations to choose from, you can tailor make your holiday to your specifications. Holiday rentals are great for those who want to holiday at their own pace, you are not tied to a hotel schedule and can come and go as you please, they are also great if there are a large group of, many rentals, either holiday cottages or villas can sleep anywhere between 4 and 20 people. They will include all the necessary amenities and if you are going to destinations in hotter climes you can also enjoy the luxury of your own pool in some. 

You can choose to be right in an action packed resort or you can opt for somewhere quieter and out of the way, if you are looking to stay here in the UK there are many places either in land or in coastal resorts. You can stay near places of interest either somewhere historical that offers castles and grand houses to explore or somewhere that offers thrill’s and excitement like a theme park.  You could opt for a city break and explore the Capital with many days out to choose from.

If you want to take your family further afield then Europe is a great option and staying in a holiday cottage or villa and enjoy the freedom mentioned above. You can choose a drive holiday to France or a fly drive holiday to Spain opting for favourite family destinations or somewhere a bit quieter off the beaten track.

If your tailor making the holiday yourself you can normally find better prices and could get it cheaper than a package holiday, comparing rental prices as well as travel prices for air, rail and sea, so why not have a look for yourself today and get on your way to creating those oh so important memories.

European destinations such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands to name a few, can provide an interesting and insightful holiday for those who do not wish to spend their time away sat on a beach.

If you have a keen interest in history then a visit to Berlin in Germany will be right up your street, not only do you have the well documented history from the past 100 years but also the history before World War 1 & 2 to get into. You can easily get a flight to Berlin, and there are many cheap hotels to stay in around the city, which will make a great base.

After the Berlin Wall fell the city began a long journey to rebuilding and regenerating itself, however still not forgetting key parts of its history such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie and the remaining Wall so no matter where you go you will always be able to find some history.

This is a city for everyone, with a huge amount of history to take, unbelievable architecture, old and new as well as contemporary shops and clothing boutiques which open until 8pm – 9pm and also shops selling traditional German clothing. To top notch restaurants or simple snack bars that sell traditional German fare including a Berlin staple the currywurst. Berlin is also very easy to get around with highly efficient public transport and roads you will find it a shock to the system.

When it comes to booking a holiday many people look to see if they can get the best value for money, so with many people feeling the pinch still has meant some people are looking to the UK in hope of getting a good deal however some prices here in the UK can be higher than abroad, so what’s the best option?

A lot depends on what you’re looking for in a holiday, the type of accommodation you want to stay in and what you’re happy paying for food and drink as well as travel expenses’. Some popular resorts in the UK find that businesses impose much higher prices than normal for food and accommodation especially if you want to travel with your family during the school holidays that it can work out cheap to go abroad, even when comparing holiday rentals.

Sometimes it can be cheaper to holiday abroad if you are looking to stay in all inclusive accommodation as although it costs more initially you save money during your holiday because your meals and drinks are included at your resort, however factoring in the flights can bump up the price to more than a holiday in the UK.

If your confident that you can keep to a budget for your holiday then there are ways to save money, if you take a caravan holiday at a park in the UK you can share the cost with a few people, many static caravans can sleep up to 10 people, all you need to think about then is the cost of food which can also be split. Travel may be a bit more expensive but if there are a few of you then to travel around you could hire a mini bus, splitting the cost here will also be handy.

There are plus and negatives to both staying here in the UK for a holiday or going abroad, however with careful planning and comparing deals and prices, you could get a very reasonable summer holiday.

Now that summer is officially here and the temperatures are heating up across the UK and Europe it’s a great time to get your flights sorted for your summer holiday. You can get great deals and cheap flights when booking last minute and if you’re open to travelling anywhere even better offers.

You can travel to some great short haul destination or if you want something more exotic there are some good deals on long haul flights, you can even get some great deals on flights around the UK with many offers on flights to London, Glasgow and Dublin available. So get looking now for great travel deals this summer!

A visit to the Baltic capitals will be no ordinary holiday, the Baltic is a fascinating and captivating region steeped in history with so much to explore and unearth. With a cruise holiday you will get to cross the waves of the Baltic ocean that were once ruled by the mighty Vikings and where great wars were fought by the surrounding countries each vying for control of this great ocean.

You can experience some of the many cultures in Europe and enjoy magnificent scenery as you travel from city to city on a Baltic cruise. Setting off from the UK your first stop is the Danish city of Copenhagen recognised by its dominating skyline as you approach, Copenhagen as with most cities in the Baltic has some of Europe’s most fascinating Architecture and Copenhagen is also one of Europe’s greenest cities. From here you will set out on a cruise exploring many of the wonderful cities the Baltic ocean has to offer such as Gothenburg, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Oslo, Riger, Stockholm and Tallin enjoy the culture, explore each cities history and soak into the atmosphere of each destination.

Different itineraries also offer the chance to explore less discovered destinations along the way, small ports where hanseatic merchants once traded, with quaint centuries-old fishermen’s houses, winding streets and local charm. With so much to see its difficult to decide where to start, there are many great cruise deals that off many different itineraries so all you have to decide is what you want to see first, then book another one next year to start exploring more of this great region.

Boat setting sail into the Baltic Ocean

Picture courtesy of MarvinSiefke

There is so much to see in Germany you will defiantly need more than one visit to take it all in, with vibrant cities, varied landscapes of mountains, forests and lakes. Germany is divided in Federal States and Regions, each with plenty of history to take in and beautiful picturesque landscapes to enjoy from castles and palaces to medieval villages and traditional wine villages you won’t be short of things to do in the land of a thousand possibilities.

One way to take in much of Germany is to follow some of their scenic routes you can get fights to Berlin and Munich and from any of these places start out upon your journey exploring all it has to offer.

For those who like Romanticism you can follow the trail to uncover the treasures of the Romance period, with magnificent stately homes palaces of courtly splendour all exquisitely decorated. This is Germanys most famous and popular tourist rout which runs across a rich and varied landscape along the river Main and through the Franconian wine country to the Alps.

Another popular tourist route and one for those who love their wine is the German Wine Route which runs through Germany’s second largest wine growing region. Here you can enjoy not only the wine but the scenery, with this region, with the weather mild you get a feeling you’re in Tuscany rather than a German Region.

Germany is a country bursting to the brim with culture and this year its host to the European Capital of Culture 2010, with a whole region not just one city dedicated to this. The Ruhr will be the capital which will include 53 towns and cities in western Germany with hundreds of events held in many locations which will reveal a surprising to side to the region. There are also plenty of other things to discover in this astounding country with many things to see and do, including Germanys famous Christmas Markets where people travel from all over the world to enjoy this enchanting experience.

Getting there is easy with many cheap flights to Germany available the only hard thing to do is to decide where to start!

Hohenzollern Castle, Stuttgart, Germany

Picture courtesy of Trodel

Norway which is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun has 24 hour daylight during the summer which means you can enjoy its natural beauty and unspoiled landscapes all day long. A cruise holiday is great way to take in all this breathtaking scenery as you travel along the West coast into the deep Fjords that are sliced in between magnificent mountain ranges. Passing older traditional villages where Viking Long ships once docked, immersing you in its fascinating history.

For this cruise you will never be out of sight of land unlike many others passing some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes like The North Cape which is one of the main features in some of these cruises. Barley 1,000 mile from the North Pole North Cape has outstanding views of the landscape with sheer cliffs rising 300 meters out of the Adriatic Ocean. You can enjoy the hustle and bustle of some of the busiest port including the port of Bergen to Tromso and Honningsvaag where you can explore the history of the towns.

Recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List Norway has so much to offer and a cruise holiday is the perfect way to take it all in from the rolling green meadowland, to idyllic villages and welcoming towns as well as the crystal-clear waters surrounded by snow-covered peaks and gleaming glaciers. Passing outstanding waterfalls which cannot be seen from land and experience all that it has to offer.

Many cruise lines offer great cruise deals to this beautiful region and is defiantly worth a summer trip with so much history to take in as you travel around in luxury.

Norway

Picture courtesy of Michael Gwyther-Jones

Popular for breaks away in the UK holiday cottages and villas make a great base for anyone wanting to explore , with no restrictions on when you need to be back or when you can and can’t eat. Generally a holiday cottage is like a home away from home and many popular UK holiday destinations such as the Lake District, New Forest, Devon and Cornwall have a great selection to choose from.

Usually holiday cottages are situated near places of interest and sometimes you may even find you have a wonderful view of it to look out onto such as an imposing stunning outlook along Yorkshire Dales, or a quiet stretch across a Norfolk beach. With no restrictions you can explore as much or as little of the local area as well as taste local delicacies and good old pub grub, whatever takes your fancy.

No matter where you stay you can find something to suit your needs whether its peace and tranquillity in the Scottish highlands or a good family holiday near a Cornish beach staying in a holiday cottage will not hold you back.