Archive for the ‘Travel guide’ Category
Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is fast becoming one of the hottest spots in Europe for a weekend break and once you visit, you will completely understand why.
Amsterdam has a well-deserved reputation for its liberal attitude towards a freer lifestyle, and although it is still possible to while away the hours in the city’s coffee shops (which legally sell more than just coffee), times are changing. For example, there is now a smoking ban, and tighter control on the sale of certain substances. As a result, people are beginning to see Amsterdam in a new light and taking full advantage of what this extremely pretty city has to offer.
The architecture and scenery in Amsterdam is almost chocolate box beautiful. The canals that meander through the city are hugged by cobbled streets and tall, thin gabled buildings. If you wish to do as the locals do, you can hire a bike to fully explore the leafy, charming streets. For that extra romantic experience, hire a tandem and cycle down to Vondel Park with a picnic.
Culturally, Amsterdam has plenty to offer; from the sublime to the ridiculous, Amsterdam has a museum for pretty much everything. The Rijksmuseum houses works from two of the city’s most famous sons, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, whilst the sobering experience of the Anne Frank House is a must for any visitor. For the lighter side of life, the city is home to the Heineken Museum (complete with samples), and there are even a couple of sex museums thrown in for good measure.
This city truly is the sparkling gem in the Netherlands’ crown.
Amsterdam
Picture courtesy of Joao Maximo
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Uluru – known to most of the world by its colonial moniker, Ayer’s Rock – is the iconic symbol of Australia, and among the most sacred sites of the Aboriginal people. Uluru is its traditional name. Situated right in the centre of Australia, this red giant is 350 metres high, and it is nine kilometres around the base. It has captivated humans for thousands of years, and continues to do so.
It is a good 800 kilometre round trip from Alice Springs – the nearest large town – to Uluru, and once you leave those town limits, there is almost nothing but you, ruler straight roads, one right turn and the desert. There are a couple of roadhouses where you should be sure to fill up with petrol – nobody wants to run out of fuel in those parts – but that’s all the civilization you will encounter until you get to the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, where Uluru is located.
When you start to notice Uluru looming on the horizon, however, you will instantly feel rejuvenated and know that your long drive was well worth it.
The best times to view Uluru are at sunrise and sunset. One of the qualities that fascinate people most about this geological wonder is how different it seems to appear in differing light, so it is best to view it at both these times, if you can.
It is possible, depending on weather conditions, to take a number of guided walks and get up close and personal with the big rock; it is also possible to walk to the top, although the Aboriginal people prefer visitors not do so.
Ayres Rock
Picture courtesy of terencewilquin
In a time when most types of holidays are struggling to attract people, why are cruise holidays bucking the trend? Over the past couple of year cruise holidays are on the increase and travel expert believe more people will look to taking a cruise holiday. This is good news for many cruise operators as many have invested in new liners in the past couple of years and many have new ones planned for the future.
Many travellers are looking to get the most from their money and with air travel costs on the increase so it’s no surprise that people are looking at other holiday types. The standard accommodation on board a cruise ship is relatively inexpensive and costs the same as it would to stay in a standard hotel room, of a mid range hotel. The food although can be a large outlay of a cruise holiday is also average to on land prices, you also have more expensive options, just like you would on dry land which you can avoid if your budget wont stretch.
Added bonuses of cruise holidays is that your travel costs are kept to a minimum, you don’t have to worry about getting around as that is all taken care of, so no trains, buses or taxies to worry about which can be expensive. You also have the bonus of visiting a few ports on your holiday, getting a taste of each destination, which is a great way of exploring a region you haven’t been to before. You also get a great selection of on board entertainment which means that even though you are confined to a ship you won’t run out of things to do.
There are plenty of cruise holidays to choose from offering voyages all around the world which means you can easily visit far flung destinations you have only dreamed of and you won’t have to shell out a small fortune as there are a wide range of cheap cruses available online for all the family.
With seven beaches to enjoy, Barcelona is an ideal choice for a seaside holiday. The city has so much else to offer, however, that many visitors go nowhere near the sea. The airport is only 12 kilometres from the centre, and a low cost train and the A1 Aerobus run regularly throughout the day. The city also has an underground metro system which is fairly easy to navigate. Holidaymakers who plan to rely on the metro system can buy a T-1 ticket which is valid for ten rides.
Many visitors to Barcelona say the food is the highlight of the trip. Tapas Bars are a great choice for dinner, where diners can order a selection of hot and cold snacks to literally fill the table top and share leisurely throughout the evening.. Octopus is a popular Barcelona favourite, as are traditional dishes such as tortilla Española, a Spanish omelette, and patatas bravas, potatoes spiced with paprika in olive oil. Some of Spain’s best sparkling wines also come from the region.
Barcelona also offers a wide variety of shops for holidaymakers. The El Born district is made up of fashion boutiques, and Passeig de Gracia and Avinguda Diagonal also contain a number of shops to occupy the day.
One of Barcelona’s most famous buildings is La Sagrada Familia, a stunning building designed by the well known architect Antoni Gaudi. Work has been ongoing on this building since 1882 and is not due to be completed until approximately 2020. The Park Guell is one of Gaudi’s outdoor masterpieces and is filled with architectural surprises. The Picasso museum houses over 3000 works by the artist, and is very popular with tourists.
Eight hours south of Beijing by train is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pingyao. It is the largest completely walled-in, fully functioning town in the world with many of the original old buildings still standing.
This was once the ancient financial hub of China, though know it feels as if you are very much walking on the set of a Kung Fu movie.
Accommodation in Pingyao is like taking a wonderful, romantic step back in time. Beautiful, traditional Chinese courtyard guesthouses abound here, giving holidaymakers a sense of total immersion in this living memorial to China’s rich past and amazing culture.
Tourists can buy one ticket that allows admission to all the main tourist attractions, such as the museum and bell tower that dominates the town centre in a diminutive way.
The financial museum is well worth a trip, with much of its original fixtures and fittings still intact. Alternatively, a marvellous way to get round and get lost in the town’s traditional narrow streets is to hire a bicycle for the day and explore it on your own terms. Like everywhere else in China, the food here is delicious. Standards are high across the board in pretty much all the restaurants. There is much to feast on here, for both famished stomachs and hungry eyes eager to catch a glimpse of the past in a speedily modernising China.
The Festival de Cannes is drawing to a close and soon the ‘A’ List celebrities will be swanning off home after pedalling their latest project at the world famous film festival. Cannes is famously know as a super glamorous destination on the French Rivera, along with Saint Tropez and Monaco, however when the film festival is in town it sets itself apart from the other places and becomes the ‘it’ place to be.
Yachts line the marina and not a night goes by when some fabulous party or another is being thrown on board. It may be hard to imagine for us mere mortals living like this, however you can sample a bit of the highlife yourself, without having to splash the cash with a cruise holiday. France features highly on many of the itineraries of most of the major cruise lines, with the opportunity to sail round the Cote de Azure and stopping off in ports such as Toulon, Cannes, Marseille and Villefranche. It’s all about experiencing little tasters of the high life when you dock in these ports, as well as onboard your cruise ship.
When you take a Mediterranean cruise holiday, France isn’t the only port of call you stop off at all sorts of diverse countries where you can explore a huge range of different cultures, which is why it’s the most popular cruise destinations for British travellers. You can soak up the sights in Spain including famous attractions in ports such as Palma, Majorca and Barcelona. As well as indulge in the history of Italy and Greece, with ease as you visit top tourist sites including UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Going on holiday to Asia can be a very rewarding experience if you have never been to the region. The numerous attractions, diverse cultures, and the white sand beaches are just a few elements that make this part of the world worthy of exploration. At the very least, a holiday in Asia will reward your with memories that will last a lifetime. Here are six reasons why you should consider going on holiday in Asia.
1) The currency exchange rate works in the tourists’ favour here, so you will have a little more flexibility with your budget.
2) The majority of the tours and travel packages are reasonably priced and will fit into most budgets, while the different holiday accommodation rentals are reasonably priced.
3) China and India provide the international traveller with a great scope of world history, while many of the landmarks are considered as being wonders of the world.
4) For the best beach holidays, Southeast Asia is your best option. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand are renowned for having the most pristine beaches in the world.
5) If you’re travelling with children, consider visiting Hong Kong, as they have just opened a Disneyland there. You’ll also enjoy the Cantonese cuisine and the shopping venues.
6) Taiwan is another excellent choice for an Asian holiday destination. The natural beauty of the surrounding areas results from the abundance of forests, mountains, and rivers that you will find no matter where you are exploring.
York is a major city in the north of England, with a great number of historic attractions that draw tourists from across the world during the summer season. It is also a dynamic modern city that has everything to offer the modern tourist looking for a combination of cultural heritage combined with full amenities.
Both within the city itself and around the outskirts, there are many choices of accommodation to choose from. These include family-run bed and breakfasts as well as grand hotels, and your choice will depend on personal preference. Increasing numbers of visitors to York are opting for self-catering holiday apartments and villas to allow them to make their own catering arrangements and itineraries.
The big attractions of York are situated mainly in the area of the Old City, delimited by impressive white walls that are 600 years old but still in excellent condition. A walk around the ramparts is one of the attractions here, and in fact you can see everything of interest on foot.
York Minster dominates the city even now, and if you want a panoramic view of the whole region you cannot do better than climb one of its impressive twin towers. Just a stone’s throw from there is the Shambles, and you will see why it is called that as soon as you enter this maze of narrow alleyways that was obviously constructed before anyone had thought of town planning.
The Jorvik Viking Centre is a must-see with its displays of Viking life when they ruled York a millennium ago.
York skyline with York Minster
Picture courtesy of andyspictures
Are you star-struck? Then the best place for your next holiday is Los Angeles, California (USA). The centre of the television and movie universe, you will be able to enjoy good weather while rubbing elbows with stars of today and tomorrow.
Start with the movie and television studios. Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Disney and Paramount are just some of the big-name studios, but you are more likely to have a chance to actually talk with a movie professional at some of the smaller names, like Dreamworks (now a subsidiary of Paramount), Raleigh and Sunset-Gower.
If you prefer television to movies, check out the tours of locations like the NBC television studios in Burbank, California, or get tickets to the Tonight Show or one of the many morning or game shows. Studios are always looking for people to be in the audience, and there is no reason you cannot be one of them. Imagine the thrill of being chosen to play The Price Is Right or another game show!
Of course, stars can be found everywhere, including at famous Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. Take a day and relax in the sun and sand. People-watching is a favourite pastime, and you will not be disappointed, no matter when you go.
No visit to the Los Angeles area is complete without a visit to a theme park. Choose from Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, or Six Flags Magic Mountain. Spend a day on the roller coasters, eating theme park food, and walking until the soles fall off your shoes, just do not leave without a mouse-ears hat.
Hollywood Los Angeles
Picture courtesy of Derek Purdy
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States is the city of Las Vegas, with people being attracted in droves thanks to the glitz, glamour and, of course, gambling. Over the last few years, more and more direct flights to Las Vegas have started to be offered from UK airports, cutting down the travel time by eliminating lengthy layovers at regional American airports and, at the same time, lowering prices.
Although Las Vegas has a reputation as a gambler’s paradise, these days the city is a much more well rounded tourist destination and offers visitors far more than just cards, dice and slots. The many huge hotels and resorts which make up the world famous ‘Strip’ all contain multiple theatres, restaurants, bars, clubs, amusement arcades, shops and other more family friendly attractions such as aquariums, zoos and roller coasters.
The warm weather that Las Vegas experiences almost year round thanks to its location also lends itself to a more traditional holiday than many people expect, with all large hotels having swimming pool complexes which allow guests to relax poolside during the day. For those looking for a more upbeat daytime experience, some hotels offer ‘party pools’, where the water is little more than something to keep revellers cool.
Just because Las Vegas has become more than a gambler’s paradise, though, doesn’t mean that those who enjoy a flutter will be short changed. The ground floors of the casinos are still full of tables and slot machines, the poker rooms are still bustling and the sportsbooks are still some of the busiest and best places to watch sports.
Las Vegas
Picture courtesy of http2007