Exciting family holiday destinations

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.

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A taste of Berlin

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.

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Holiday in the UK or abroad?

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.

Posted in Accommodation, Europe, Holiday cottages and villas, Holiday ideas, Long haul, Self catering, Short breaks, Short haul, Travel Guide | Leave a comment

Summer holiday flights

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!

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A Baltic cruise holiday

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

Boat setting sail into the Baltic Ocean

Picture courtesy of MarvinSiefke

 

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More than meets the eye in Germany

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

Hohenzollern Castle, Stuttgart, Germany

Picture courtesy of Trodel

 

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Norwegian summer cruise

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

Norway

Picture courtesy of Michael Gwyther-Jones

 

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Self catering in the UK

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.

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Have a cheap ferry break

After a year of the ‘credit crunch’, doom and gloom over the recession and strikes, delays and restrictions at airports and on the Eurotunnel people are returning to the good old faithful way to cross the channel on a ferry. Now it may not be as glamorous as a cruise holiday but you still get the same effect with a decent level of service on board for your money.

Currently ferry companies are desperate to fill ships and reduce prices to tempt more passengers aboard, you can now get a return trip to France for less than a meal out at a restaurant meaning you can easily get away for a break and enjoy the samples of France. Many of the newer ferries are much bigger and feel more like a cruise ship with great on board amenities.  It’s also relatively cheap to take your car across which means you can explore much more of what France has to offer.

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Winter sports for the eco friendly

The Swiss village of Les Cerniers has set the bar for sustainable style and ethical adventure holidays in the Alps, here you can stay in futuristic pods in the resort of Whitepod which is made up of low-impact structures. This resort offers comfort and relaxation but with minimal impact on the environment. You can stay in either one of the 15 domes or go higher up to the dorms-based refuge, and enjoy a base camp” chalet with a restaurant and amenities including 7km of ski runs and lifts for guests’ exclusive use. There are also other activates available like dog-sledding, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing that can minimise your carbon foot print.

Aspen, Colorado won one of the 2006 Responsible Tourism Awards thanks to the efforts of the Aspen Skiing Company, it is pioneering in environmentally friendly skiing as well as, investing in local farmland. Aspen is normally considered a play ground for the rich and famous which pushes everything to the extreme and most people probably don’t recognise the resorts green credentials and sustainability. It’s also pocket friendly as well with many chalets at reasonable prices meaning you don’t have to break bank to enjoy this eco friendly resort.

Europe, especially Switzerland seem to be steaming ahead with eco friendly resorts with Saas Fee in Switzerland been ranked as one of the best in the world. Saas Fee is a typical picture perfect village with hotels and shops that blend in ideally with the more traditional wooden chalets and farmhouses. There are many places in Switzerland that are now car free and this has also been introduced into ski resorts like Saas Fee, there accommodation here is also eco friendly like their bio chalets that were renovated according to environmental standards and using sustainable materials and the apartments and hotels which were built to high environmental standards.

Saas Fee

Saas Fee

Picture courtesy of unovar

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