Sitting on the coast of Thailand, Rai Leh and its surrounding beaches have long been a top destination for backpackers.  These days, however, it is not just students and adventurous types that frequent this stunning coastal area.  West Rai Leh Beach has plenty of up-market resorts which are ideally placed to take advantage of the rather dramatic views available in this beautiful peninsula.  That said, there is still a wide range of moderately priced accommodation available in East Rai Leh, as well as in Hat Ton Sai.

The landscape in this area is unbelievably gorgeous.  Soaring vegetation-covered white limestone cliffs emerge from impossibly blue waters; this is the archetypal image many people have of Thailand thanks to the film The Beach and, indeed, these surroundings form the backbone of activities here.  Either you are soaking up the rays and soaking up the ambience and beauty around you, or you are getting your climbing gear on and scaling these enormous rocks.  Hat Ton Sai is a climbing Mecca, and offers some of the most challenging climbs in the world.

For those who aren’t adrenaline junkies, there are alternatives to risking your life.  Kayaking in and out of the inlets formed by these giant rocks is a perfect – and safe – way to spend an afternoon, as is taking an island hopping snorkelling tour, during which you will enjoy the stunning beauty of the surrounding marine parks. 

Rai Leh is a real Thai island paradise – and not just for backpackers anymore

This country very much deserves its nickname of the ‘Land of Smiles’.  And visitors would smile, too, if they lived here. 

In Bangkok, there is always something to keep you amused.  The touristy Khao San Road and its surrounding areas are sometimes hard to escape.  However, there is much to see here – the beautiful reclining Buddha in Wat Pho is the largest in the country, and Wat Phra Kaew is home to not just the Emerald Buddha, but also the opulent and stunning Grand Palace.

Thailand has a formidable reputation as a tropical paradise, with hundreds of white, sandy beaches on its many islands.  Many of these islands have become iconic – Koh Pha-Ngan is the ultimate party destination, to the completely stunning Ko Phi Phi, the location for the film The Beach.  Due to the sheer number of islands that abound in Thailand, each one will offer something for everyone. 

Koh Chang, on the east coast, is a perfect destination for families, while Koh Lanta, on the west coast, retains the infamous chilled atmosphere that made Thailand so popular with backpackers in the first place. 

The beaches around the Krabi area offer some of the best climbing opportunities in the world, scaling the soaring limestone formations that are so synonymous with Thailand.

Further north, the city of Chiang Mai is a food lover’s Mecca.  In fact, northern Thailand itself is abundant with treasures to discover – treks through the mountains to discover numerous hill tribes and peer into their way of life is one of the best cultural experiences this country has to offer.  It simply is wonderful.

A marvel of nature at its best, this country is just beautiful.  Owing to its unique position over tectonic plates, the natural geology and geothermal activity make this a delight to discover.  Everywhere you turn, there is another awesome sight. 

New Zealand is an adrenaline junkie’s paradise with a plethora of outdoor adventure activities that will thrill visitors.  It is the home of the bungee jump, but thrill seekers can supplement their fix with sky diving, glacier hikes, zorbing and white water rafting to name but a few.

Comprising of the North and South Island, both of these have their distinctive characteristics.  The North is home to deserted, beautiful beaches facing the Pacific on the east.  There is a real sense of wonderful isolation and being at one with nature here, particularly at the East Cape, the most easterly point in the world, and it is quite usual to not come across another soul for hours while you soak it all up.  It also boasts amazingly colourful geothermal pools, the largest of which are in Rotorua – a must-see for visitors.  The South Island, on the other hand, is a perfect contrast, with snow-capped Alps, two massive glaciers and incredible fjords, known technically incorrectly as the sounds. 

It is no wonder that this country was the chosen film location for the Lord of the Rings trilogy – it has an other worldly quality to it, leaving visitors feeling totally in awe of the wonderful power of nature.  A completely beautiful country, holidaymakers will fall in love with it at first sight.

Mexico has a rich combination of Spanish and Native American heritage, which provides it with flavour, and colour.  The country is a popular travel destination for many people and regardless of the places you visit, the archaeological sites, the desert national parks, forests and mountains, you are assured of having a wonderful time any time of the year.

Mexico has a wide range of terrains such as the stunning cactus deserts, clear, white sandy beaches as well as the tropical rainforest.  The people of Mexico are always friendly.  You will fall in love with the countryside, which remains natural and has not been spoiled by developments.  The cities, especially the capital, have a unique architectural style that cannot be found anywhere else.  The unique Mexican heritage is brought alive by the various ancient Mayan temples located in the jungles and the remains of the Aztec civilizations, as well as the Spanish colonial cities.

Some of the highlights of the country include the capital, Mexico City, Guadalajara, and the city of Monterrey that showcases attractive colonial buildings.  Other important cities to visit include Morelia, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi and Meridia.

Most of the unspoiled and natural beaches can be found on the coasts of Oaxaca, especially the regions of Puerto Escondido and Zipolite.  Here you can enjoy the warm and unspoilt waters and take part in various water sports such as scuba diving and surfing.  Mexico still remains a very popular tourist destination in the region.

Oaxaca

Picture courtesy of uLe @ Dortmund

Osaka, Japan’s third-largest city, is a prime holiday destination.  Osaka has a long and interesting history, beginning with the construction of Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s castle in the 16th century.  At one point, it was also the commercial capital of Japan.  This combination of history and culture makes Osaka an essential stop for visitors.

Shinsekai is a relatively new district in Osaka.  Before World War II influenced Japan, Shinsekai was constructed to be an important area in the city.  The most striking feature of the area is the Tsutentaku Tower.  It was intended to be similar to the Eiffel Tower, and provides a wonderful photo opportunity to all visitors.  The whole district is very similar to Coney Island in New York.

History buffs are sure to enjoy a trip to the Osaka Museum of History.  Newly constructed, it only opened to the public in 2003.  Since it is across the street from Osaka Castle, the top floor has a wonderful view of the castle.  Museum exhibits outline the history of the city, beginning with Japan’s ancient history, and leading up to the Showa Period.

Osaka Castle may very well be the highlight of Osaka.  It was originally built in 1583, destroyed a few decades later, and rebuilt in the 1620s.  It was burnt down in 1665 and finally rebuilt in 1931.  The castle has everything you would expect from a castle from this period of Japanese history, with gates, turrets, moats, a huge garden with 600 cherry trees, and an impressive castle tower.  The Osaka Castle Park has recreational areas, a sports facility, and a religious shrine.

Visitors that travel to Japan should make a stop in Osaka, a city rich in history, culture, and entertainment.

If you book a holiday on an airlines UK website that ends in .co.uk rather than .com, you could end up paying more, as well as not been offered as many offers or deals. According to research by the Observer newspaper Flights typically cost more and customers will find fewer special deals on those websites, for example One Virgin customer saved £700 by booking his flights on the company’s US website.

The discrepancy was noticed by customers using the UK sites for United Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand and when the Observer journalist tried to book a return trip from London Heathrow to Chicago for mid-April on United’s website, they found the cheapest economy seat on the America-based united.com was $696.60 which is around £436 before taxes, compared to £465 on the UK website.

Also comparing both the .co.uk and .com sites there was large-scale availability in the economy cabin, with additional seats available in an ‘economy plus’ category offering additional legroom for a $99 premium on .com but only a few seats and no economy category on the same flight on unitedairlines.co.uk.

Speaking about the differences, United admitted that ‘fares may differ on occasion’ between countries, but said its fares were consistent within the UK. A spokesperson for the company said: ‘We offer the same low fares via UK travel agencies as we offer via unitedairlines.co.uk’.

The Civil Aviation Authority said carriers routinely use different marketing strategies in different countries, which would explain the discrepancies in pricing. ‘Britons may be affected more than others because of the almost complete deregulation of air fares in this country, introduced some years ago to create more competition. Not every country has such complete deregulation,’ it says.

Passengers now face extra costs for their family holidays after a sharp rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) which is basically an airport departure tax. Many people now looking to book their holiday for 2011 will find a steep rise in costs for holidays to the Caribbean, which has seen the steepest of rises, with the tax nearly doubling. For people looking to visit family abroad, especially Singapore and Australia will see charges increase by 55%.

Many people from the Airline and travel industry have voice their disapproval of the increases, with Sir Richard Branson’s airline Virgin Atlantic saying the rises will make family holidays “unaffordable for many”. Not only that many companies have also highlighted the unfairness in the new system, because the APD tax to the Caribbean where some destinations are only eight hours away, is higher  than to Hawaii and the west coast of America, which are at least 11 hours distant, contradicting the point of the tax.

According to the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), who represents more than 80 airlines, said the rises would affect not only UK residents but those travelling to the UK. Mike Carrivick BAR UK chief executive said: “The effect of the increases on destinations such as the Caribbean have now reached the point where it is the equivalent of a family group paying for four tickets but only receiving three.”

Adding to that the British airlines pilots’ union Balpa described APD as a “poll tax of the skies” which would “hurt families, hurt business and export British jobs to our near neighbours”. The civil aviation national secretary for the Unite union, Brendan Gold said: “This is a retrograde step which will increase the burden on passengers, putting even more jobs at risk.”

Travel organisation ABTA has urged holiday makers to make their views known on the tax and further increases to their MP.

While Fort Lauderdale may be most famous for being perhaps the USA’s busiest cruise ship port, the small city provides the perfect retreat for anyone looking for long stretches of beach, glorious sun and a range of restaurants offering the best in seafood.  About an hour’s drive from bustling Miami, Fort Lauderdale has a long beachfront of hotels and restaurants, along with sublime waterways that are home to some of the country’s wealthiest citizens.

With its own airport, access to Fort Lauderdale is easy and though many travelling there may be destined for the huge cruise ships lining its port, the easy-going pace of the city provides the relaxation many crave.  Golden sands, stretching out into the distance in both directions along the coastal strip, offer sunbathing, swimming and water sports.  With its hotels and restaurants only a short distance away, wandering gently around and relaxing is almost impossible to avoid.

Behind the beachfront lie the glorious waterways that meander throughout Fort Lauderdale.  Home to Manatees in the warmer seasons, exploring the watercourses by boat is both an ideal way of getting around and also learning more about the area.  As a bonus, this mode of transport provides a fantastic opportunity to glimpse the huge and ornate mansions and yachts that pepper the shores.

Fort Lauderdale is a fantastic place for anyone looking to enjoy the bustle of Miami, while allowing themselves days of gentle exploration.  With a buzzing gay nightlife, family festivals throughout the year and sublime, freshly caught and prepared seafood, it will definitely leave a lasting impression.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Picture courtesy of miamism

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!