There is so much to remember whilst on holiday, but you do have to make sure you keep yourself and your belongings from unscrupulous people waiting to get you from the moment you arrive. Most criminals can tell tourists from the locals and know how to specifically target us tourists constantly keeping up to date with the latest scams. So make sure wherever you are be aware of everyone around you someone could be waiting to pounce just when your least expecting it.

Warning single men

If you’re a guy travelling alone or with a mate and are approached by a couple of single girls, beware it will probably be too good to be true. Their usual scam is to pretend that they are lost in the city and need some help normally suggesting you all go for a drink at a bar they select of course, said bar will probably small dark and not have any windows and an exit guarded by a hefty doorman. After only a couple of drinks you will pretty much be bankrupted before your are able to leave after being left a heft bar tap for 4 drinks and not allowed to leave. Needless to say the girls won’t be particularly lost now, well not until they find some other unsuspecting guys.

The spectacle thief

Criminals are good at keeping you distracted whilst robbing you, normally with a commotion set up nearby and while you intrigued watching this someone swoops in and steals your belongings. Sometimes the distraction can be one on one with some asking for your help keeping you occupied while their accomplice nabs your stuff.

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

Even though many families are suffering from the effects of the recession and tightening their belts, it seems holidays or short breaks with the family are not be given up on just yet. Looking for a cheaper way to get a break many families with young children decided to make the most of their holiday by visiting theme or amusement parks. Lots of attractions here in the UK offer great deals for families and with theme parks dotted all around the country most people don’t have to travel to far to get to one.

Amusement parks and theme parks are a great day out for the whole family whether it’s part of your weeks holiday in the UK or just a day trip, they are also great to go back and visit time after time because many are adding new and exciting rides.

UK’s top theme parks and amusement parks:

Alton Towers
Chessington World of adventures
Drayton Manor
Thorpe Park
Legoland
Blackpool Pleasure Beach

London can be a great destination for families with plenty for all to enjoy, finding things to do that can keep your kids entertained as well as not making your time to child orientated is easier than you think. A trip to London can include man thinks including history, science and art but all with an element of fun to keep young ones interested. So hop on a flight to London and experience the fun!

A favourite for children and adults alike is Madame Tussauds and one of London’s popular destinations offer plenty for the whole family, featured there are not just celebrities of the here and now but also older personalities that parents can reminisce about. London Zoo also offer lots to so for all ages, with an extensive collection of exotic animals, plus a wide range of free activities. For families with older children The London Dudgeon is also a popular hit, calling itself “the world’s most chillingly famous horror attraction. Chronicling London’s gruesome history you children will be terrified into learning history without even knowing it!

If your children have been very good you can treat them to a trip to London’s Hamleys Toy Shop, here you find seven floors packed full of the latest toy, games and gifts, not to mention fun games for adults and children to enjoy. Also it’s a great way to bribe your kids following you around while you indulge in some retail shopping in the capital.

For families travelling to London could not be easier, with road and rail links and 3 London airports there are many ways to get there.

A firm family favourite has more to offer than the all inclusive bustling family hotels or resorts you can get a better look at the volcanic island by staying in a self catering holiday villa in the Canary Islands and hiring a car to explore the island.

Many people visit Lanzarote for the great selection of beaches and the sizzling sunshine to get a great tan and the resorts that offer a wide range of bars and clubs and all night entertainment, but Lanzarote has more to offer than that.

The island has some of the most awe inspiring landscape you will see made up of volcanic formations with great reserves including a Biosphere Reserve and Marine Reserve as well as a National Parks and 12 protected areas, making for some great photo opportunities. It also has volcano’s that you won’t see anything like anywhere else which influences the lives of its inhabitants and offers great natural history.

You can choose to stay in a holiday cottage or villa either by the coat or inland in one of many small villages and can get around the island by car or if you prefer by bike to explore those harder to reach places.

Lanzarote volcanic landscape

Picture courtesy of sbegueria

Edinburgh is a city steeped in history, so much so that people who keep coming back year after, still have not seen all it has to offer. The city which was founded upon the famous castle rock can trace its history back to the Bronze Age all the way to present day, a site commonly noted in history Edinburgh Castle was constantly fought for and its defence can still be seen to today.

Edinburgh consists of the Old Town and the New Town, until the late 18th century it only consisted of the Old Town which is the area where you’ll find the Castle, Royal Mile and Grassmarket. The new Town was developed in the 1750’s to attract back wealthy families who had left for London when the city became over populated, the New Town was designed by James Craig, whose design inspired the New Town’s grid like system of streets which include the popular and well known Princes Street and Queen Street. Since then Edinburgh has grown and grown not only popular for visitors but business alike, it’s easy access of road and rail also make it possible as well as the convenience of cheap flights to Edinburgh Airport.

For historians you will no doubt be enticed by Edinburgh’s history and can trace much of Scotland’s history from here too. Edinburgh offers an array of libraries and museums to indulge in which include the Museum of Scotland, the Royal Museum, the National Library of Scotland, National War Museum of Scotland, the Museum of Edinburgh, Museum of Childhood and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.  Scotland is also know for is traditions including the much celebrated Edinburgh Military Tattoo which takes place in the Castle Esplanade every night over summer concurrently with other popular Edinburgh festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh Comedy Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the  Edge Festival.

Edinburgh also makes a good base for exploring other parts of Scotland located in the south east Edinburgh lies on the east coast of the Central Belt, along the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea. From here you can discover the Lothian’s, where East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian makeup Edinburgh’s surrounding coast and countryside.

The Aegean Coast is a very popular destination for British tourists with many great holiday spots on its coastline and lots to see and do. You can enjoy Turkey’s rolling hills and mountains, clear blue seas and its glorious white sand beaches from many resorts whether you stay in the bustling centres of Bodrum or Marmaris or smaller ports such as Olu Deniz and Fethiye there is plenty to explore and enjoy.

If you stay in one of many holiday villas in Turkey Aegean region you can use it as a base to sample all the different cultures and the rich history this region has to offer like the Ephesus Archaeological site which is probably the most evocative ancient city in the eastern Mediterranean, and one of the grandest reconstructed ancient sites in the world. The remarkably preserved ruins were rediscovered in the 1800’s, you can marvel at the marble-paved streets with grooves made by chariot wheels and partially reconstructed buildings and monuments. Or the Dalyan Çayı River which flows past the town of Dalyan where you can take a boat ride and spend some time pampering your skin at the Dalyan mud baths or go to Iztuzeu beach which today is now a nature reserve at the mouth of the river. Along the Dalyan Çayı River journey to Iztuzeu beach you can also see the spectacular Lycian rock tombs in the mountainside.

For those who enjoy a wild night out you can visit the town of Marmaris which has a vibrant nightlife, you can enjoy a meal at one of many restaurants down by the quayside where you will find anything from traditional Turkish to Italian, Chinese and British. You can then dance the night away down Marmaris famous Bar Street which is full of bars and clubs, or if you don’t fancy some dancing you can enjoy some late night shopping in the undercover Carsi market before you head back to you holiday villa or apartment.

Lycian rock tombs, Dalyan

Picture courtesy of sbunting108

There is so many places to visit and much to see and do on the West Coast of America it can be hard to easily fit it all into one holiday, however if you take a Celebrity West Coast cruise holiday from Canada to California travelling on the luxurious cruise liner the Celebrity Millennium you get to see the best the West has to offer.

The Celebrity Millennium offers world class facilities for all to enjoy with spacious and comfortable accommodation, from stylish staterooms to stunning Penthouse suites, but with so much to do on board and so much to see when in port you will probably find you don’t spend that much time in your room. During daytime cruising there are plenty of options to spend your time onboard such as for exercise fans, High-tech fitness facilities like AquaSpa, a Swimming Pool, Paddle tennis and Golf nets and if you just like to relax and take it easy before big excursions you can unwind in the Two-tier library, the Card room, Music library, Internet café or one of the Elegant bars and lounges. In the evening there are plenty of places for you to dine from 5* restaurants to the casual dining boulevard you will never be short of places to eat.

The West Coast Cruise starts in Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia where you firstly get too enjoy the sophistication and cultural richness that it has to offer before you depart on your journey southward, after the first night of travelling you will arrive at Nanaimo and dock for the day and either enjoy some excursions or just explore the ship. The next day you can spend exploring Victoria, with its genteel ambience you can visit the Butchart Gardens or relax in one of many street cafes.

Picture courtesy of tiarescott

The next day is normally a highlight of many people taking this cruise, a day enjoying Seattle, visiting famous places such as the world-famous Space Needle and the majestic 14,410-foot active volcano Mount Rainier as well as the birthplace of Frasier, Kurt Cobain and Microsoft. After a day exploring all that Seattle has to offer you get to relax for a day at sea before you reach California and the first stop off in this state is San Francisco where you have two days to enjoy here. You can enjoy many of the great tourist attractions here such as the Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz and if you are partial to a bit of shopping then you stop off at Bloomingdales, Barneys, Sephora and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Picture courtesy of dherrera_96

After San Francisco you then sail by night arriving in the small, laid-back and lovely port of Monterey, where for the day you can visit numerous shops and restaurant as well as the Monterey Bay aquarium. Coming near to the end of your cruise you can stop off in Los Angles and can visit the town of Avalon which is a quaint village on Catalina Island, here you can enjoy a stroll along the colourful Pleasure Pier, which offers numerous opportunities for exploring the island’s emerald waters with world-famous glass bottom boat rides. The next day you arrive in San Diego where you have a bit of time for a look around before you leave for your flight back to the UK.

Picture courtesy of brewbooks

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 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.