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

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 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.

There are many treatments to choose from like a traditional Thai massage or experience a Thai herbal scrub, you can also treat your weary hands and feet to the ancient technique of reflexology which not only makes your feet fell better but the whole of your body as well a manicure and pedicure to glam up your hands and feet. Many spas also offer use of relaxation pools and steam rooms where you can rejuvenate and hydrate your skin.

To finish the day off you can also take your mother out for a lovely meal at a fancy restaurant so she will feel fully appreciated after a day of indulgence at a day spa London.

Boxing – Some Royal Caribbean ships now have full-size boxing rings, however the nearest you get to a real punch-up is hitting the coach’s training pads, sparring with a punch bag or mirror boxing.

Gym – You will find that many cruise ships have their own on board gym fitted with the latest exercising equipment and fully qualified trainers. Some also have jogging tracks on deck however the gigantic new Oasis of the Seas has a track almost half a mile long, and Royal Caribbean offers running routes in port.

Water sports – On the Royal Caribbean’s biggest vessels they offer ‘Flowrider’ surf machines where you can get fit whilst surfing onboard the cruise ship. Smaller ships often have platforms from which you can swim, windsurf, waterski or kayak in port.

Lawn sports – Some cruise lines like Cunard and Celebrity still offer more traditional sports onboard their ships such as croquet or boules or shortened tennis on their all-weather sports courts.

So if you enjoy holidaying on cruises you can still keep fit and healthy on board with plenty of activities to help shift and weight you may put on, on board.

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.

If you take a East Canada cruise holiday you will experience some of the most spectacular natural beauty on earth as well as stop in some of the most charming places in the US and Canada. Many people suggest taking the cruise in autumn because during this time of year you get to see some vibrant colours among the landscape. During the cruise you will visit the delights of the New England region and ports like Cape Cod and area known for its fishing heritage and on to the excitement of Halifax which has flourished as a prominent ports as well as the world’s second largest natural harbour. Then moving on to Canada’s French region, Quebec where you can enjoy the classic architecture and old fashioned buildings and fortifications before moving on to the rugged terrain of Nova Scotia and Saint John to try your hand at some exciting water activities such as white water rafting.

There are some great cruise deals offered by the major cruise lines for trips around Eastern Canada, so you can enjoy an interesting and awe-inspiring holiday n the lap of luxury.

Canada

Picture Courtesy of Kamal H.

When visiting Belfast you will never be short of things to do and if you’re only going for a weekend break you may find yourself wanting to spend more time there. You can go to world class venues such as the Waterfront Hall and the Odyssey Arena and enjoy lots of exciting concerts, plays and exhibitions and take in the historical and cultural to the scientific and literary in the city that inspired Narnia. You can also take in some great architecture such as Belfast Cathedral/St Anne’s Cathedral or enjoy the natural beauty at one of many parks in Belfast such as Falls Park which is popular with families, children and sports teams and Groveland’s which is popular with gardeners due to its wide variety of trees, shrubs, conifers, heathers, bedding displays and lawns which provide interest and colour throughout the year.

Belfast also has an abundance of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs where you can sample the best of what Belfast has to offer from smart and stylish restaurants to historical hostelries and from gastro pubs and bars to funk and happening nightclubs there is something for everyone.

If you fancy a fun break away for the weekend you can get some great deals on cheap flights to either Belfast International Airport or George Best Belfast City Airport, both which have excellent transport links.

Belfast City Hall

Picture courtesy of pawelbak

The types of off piste skiing, ski touring, backcountry skiing or ski mountaineering can vary from country to country and resort to resort, some resorts offer off piste skiing a few metres away from or between controlled trails and slopes where as some resorts offer ski touring or ski mountaineering which is not near marked slopes at all, or cannot be accessed by ski-lifts. All types of off piste skiing requires a good level of ability and knowledge of the area and some survival techniques if you get into trouble, you will also need a good level of fitness as because many places will have to be reached on foot and you can encounter dangers such as avalanches, exhaustion, and changing mountain weather, as well as cliffs, rock fall and tree wells.

If you are a competent skier and wish to try off piste skiing you need to check whether your resort will permit it so it’s worth when looking for ski deals to check before booking.