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.

If you’re looking for a great getaway for the August Bank Holiday weekend, then a trip to the Lake District should have everything you’re looking for, whether its rest and relaxation in peaceful surroundings or action pact adventure and fun there is something for everyone. There is so much to see and do it’s going to be hard to know where to start, no matter where you stay you won’t be far away from adventure and fun, there are many hotels and holiday cottages in the Lake District, some near the hustle and bustle of the market towns others out of the way in the peaceful surroundings of nature.

The Lake District is famous for its Lakes, where it gets its name from, also known as the Lakes or Lakeland however there’s only one “Lake” which is Bassenthwaite Lake, the rest are “meres” or “waters” such as in Windermere which is the largest ‘lake’ in Britain and Derwentwater. Here you will get to see some of England’s finest scenery as well as a wide choice of attraction’s and family activities which include outdoor fun at Grizedale Forest its challenging course of rope bridges and zip slides up to 60 feet above the forest floor will be enough for any young adventurer or for those who are not adrenaline junkies a tip to The World of Beatrix Potter where all 23 Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit tales are brought to life. You can also enjoy whiling away the hours on a boat on one of the many lakes, or explore the local area horseback riding or hiking and if you really want a challenge clime to the summit of Scafell Pike which is the highest fell in England.

You can also enjoy the tastes that the Lake District has to offer and sample the fares of Cumbria and all the local seasonal produce, from bakeries where bread and cakes are made fresh each day to restaurants sourcing local foods and delicacies, and you can also try a lot of authentic local food at farmers markets that are dotted around the area.

So for a fun filled action packed weekend away or a relaxing, revitalising break you should get booked into a holiday cottage in the Lake District.

Windermere

Picture courtesy of flamesworlddragon

If you are looking for a cruise holiday but don’t want to spend a couple of weeks away at sea you can opt for a short cruise holiday, these go to some fantastic destination for two to five days. Many shorter cruise holidays operate around Western Europe visiting some of the most beautiful ports in the world such as Honfleur and Bilbao, as well as other great destinations such as Ireland, France, Spain, Corsica or Portugal.

It’s a great opportunity to have a quick break away without the hassle you have the comfort of your own room, easy access to bars and restaurants, plenty of onboard activities and the chance to visit exciting destinations all without worrying. You can take a 2 night cruise departing from Southampton visiting Brussels and Paris or a 3 night cruise, setting sail from Southampton and head towards Antwerp in Belgium.

There are many different shorter cruises to choose from at low prices as well as many good cruise deals meaning a three night cruise can cost as little as £329 per person, that’s just over £100 per night and at that price it makes a great idea for a weekend away without worry. It’s also a great way to visit countries such as France where you can enjoy the French Rivera’s fashionable hotspots of St Malo and La Rochelle or Bordeaux which has been an official UNESCO World Heritage site since 2007. As well as the charming and charismatic capital of Portugal, Lisbon, that has a selection of museums of ancient and modern art, such as Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the National Museum of Contemporary Art and Carmo Archaeological Museum.

Sitting around on a beach on holiday is not everyone’s cup of tea, some people like to get out and about and explore the sights and sound of this world, if you’re not looking to travel too far for your summer holiday and want to take in some history and culture then why not hop on a flight to Belfast and explore this fascinating city and its surrounding area.

The capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast is its largest city which is steeped in history, it is mainly remembered for the Troubles that dominated Northern Irelands Politics for nearly three decades and scarred many people’s lives over there and here as well. Although Belfast is still coming to terms with the aftermath of the peace process which was instigated by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement the city itself is starting to turn itself around, undergoing major redevelopment and trying to attract tourists.

If you have a keen interest in history then you will find plenty to keep you occupied, learning how the city began back in the early 1100’s as a cluster of forts, and how it developed its self from then on to become what it is today. Some places of interest include: St Anne’s Cathedral, Odyssey Leisure Centre, Ulster Museum and the Botanical gardens to name but a few.

Belfast also offers many great places to eat offering a wide range of cuisines as well as typical Irish food and drink you can also have a great night out in the city with many fun bars and clubs. For those who like some retail therapy you can indulge in some shopping too from designer goods to highstreet buys as well as local crafts and art so you have plenty to keep you occupied during your visit.

Northern Ireland is easy to get around and Belfast makes a great starting point to visit the rest of the country.

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.

The Scottish town of St Andrews is well known for two things, being ‘the home of golf’ and its prestigious university, however it does have more to offer than that. There are many historical and cultural places to explore as well as enjoying its award winning beaches St Andrews makes a great destination for anyone looking for holiday rentals. Because there is so much to see and do in and around the area St Andrews makes a great base for a holiday in Scotland, not to mention the friendly locals.

St Andrews Golf Course

Picture courtesy of Charlie Dave

The golf club at St Andrews is world famous and is known as ‘the home of golf’ because the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, exercises legislative authority over the game worldwide (except in the United States and Mexico) and that its being the host venue for The Open Championship, which is the oldest of golf’s championships the most. The course is also ranked one of the best in the world, as well as one of the most picturesque. The University of St Andrews is also world famous and attracts many visitors, it is the third oldest University in the English speaking world and also its one of the UK’s most prestigious and the University was founded in 1410.

University of St Andrews

Picture courtesy of StuSmith_UK

For those who like to get out and about there are many activities to enjoy in this area such as Horse riding, guided tours, watersports, cycle way’s, off roading, power kiting, walking and hiking, plus so much more, plenty for the whole family to enjoy. St Andrews also offers a wide variety of shopping from traditional Scottish ware to local arts and crafts, it’s also host to farmers markets as well as specialist food shops. You will also fine a great number of places to eat and drink, with fine dining restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars, and fresh fish and chips, there’s plenty for all to enjoy.

There are some great caravan holiday parks in and around St Andres with some fabulous views of the ocean and the surrounding area so you are spoilt for choice for places to stay.

St Andrews Harobour

Picture courtesy of Ed.ward

When looking to fly abroad for business or pleasure you may find you might have to get a connecting flight to London Heathrow from your local airport first, sometimes this may be the aircraft you’ve travelled down on but mostly you change to a larger aircraft for the remainder of your journey, especially if it’s a long distance to travel.

Most connecting flights are only a short time after you arrive, giving enough time for baggage to be moved, some people do worry though about losing their luggage in transit when taking connecting flights. Sometimes however a connecting flight might mean a stopover in London. Luckily there are some great hotels on and near Heathrow, many of which offer a shuttle service.

Small local airports can only offer a limited number of destinations they travel directly to, normally ones across Europe if you are going further afield you may find you have to look to larger airports to get good flight deals to destinations such as USA, Canada and Australia.

If you’re someone who would rather have a bit of culture during your holiday rather than spending time soaking up the sun on the beach all day and enjoy a faster paced exciting break then a cycling holiday is right up your street.

If you want to feel like you are getting away for a break taking in a cycling tour of Northern Ireland might be just what you looking for. You either go across on the ferry in your car with your own bikes or you can get a flight to Belfast and hire some bikes from where you are starting your tour.

There are so many options on a cycling tour/holiday in Northern Ireland with many different places to visit and many different cycle routs to take depending on your ability you can visit the west of the country and enjoy the majestic scenery of Upper Lough Erne, the Mountains of Mournes along the Strangford Lough Cycle Trail and the amazing views along the North Coastline as well as many, many more destinations.

You can take a cycling holiday around Northern Ireland for as much or as little as you want with some great accommodation deals available on the web and many places to hire bikes from not to mention cheap flights that are available.

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.

With airline prices going up to combat environmental damage from air travel now has never been a better time to holiday in the UK so for your 2010 holiday why not enjoy a ‘Staycation’ right here in the UK. There are many things to enjoy some maybe right on your doorstep some further afield but never more than a car or train journey away.

If you want to enjoy a romantic weekend away then look no further than an exciting city break, places like Edinburgh, Manchester, Liverpool and London offer a whole weekend pack full of things to see and do, from local history, art galleries and museums to shopping, spa days and fine dining. With so much to see and do you will defiantly want to stay longer.

 Picture courtesy of Mikecolvin82

If city visiting is not your thing and you would like a longer break somewhere a bit more quiet then consider a break in the countryside with so many places to choose from you are spoilt for choice. Some great places to visit are Wiltshire, which is known as ‘The gateway to the West Country’ which has some fabulous scenery to take in and a great variety of places to visit like world heritage sites to beautiful gardens and historical stately homes.

Picture courtesy of PhillipC

For a relaxing or exciting break take a look of the map of the UK and see where you can go.