Air Terminal

Cappadocia is an area found in Turkey that is known for its moonlike landscape, cave churches, underground cities, and houses that are carved into the rocks.  Ballooning is a very popular activity here, and each flight is a breath-taking adventure as passengers majestically float over the surreal topography.  Balloon flights can start as early as 4 am.  At some stages while flying low, passengers might even find themselves picking apricots off the tops of the trees.  Hot air ballooning in Cappadocia is considered to be among the best ballooning found throughout the world.
 
Travellers can combine their ballooning holidays with quirky cave dwellings, excellent restaurants, and guided tours.  Balloon flights are manned by professional and highly experienced teams.  On the guided tours, a visitor can get to see amazing underground cities, cave monasteries, the breath-taking Ihlara Canyon, and nature trails. One can also see fairy chimneys in the valleys, cave churches, Whirling Dervish ceremonies and local crafts.  Selections of cave and stone rooms are offered that merge plush conveniences with cave living that is centuries old.
 
Cappadocia is a land of sensational sunsets and sunrises and unforgiving terrain.  Breath-taking nature and panoramic vistas pass underneath the passenger while they are suspended in their open basket.  The months of April through to June and September to October generally experience perfect temperatures, while July to August can be rather hot.  There are no direct flights from the UK to Cappadocia, but a person can travel from the UK and fly direct to Ankara or Istanbul.  Ankara is 4 ½ hours from Cappadocia. 

In recent years, an increasingly large number of British tourists have discovered the beauty, history and value for money offered by a holiday in Croatia. Choosing where to stay depends on the setting you prefer. One interesting aspect of the resorts in Croatia is that most of the beaches have pebbles rather than sand. Consequently, many resort owners have had sand imported to make tourists feel at home. However, there is nothing artificial about the sparkling blue of the Adriatic Sea, which can be enjoyed at all the resorts.

Some of the most popular tourist spots in Croatia are located in Porec, on the Istrian Peninsula. The town is two centuries old and features a harbour sheltered from the sea by the islet of Saint Nicholas. Visitors can enjoy a free boat trip from the town to the islet, where they can enjoy discovering fascinating places for sunbathing and swimming.

There are two well-known resorts in Porec, Plava and Zelena Lagoon. They are within walking distance of Porec and occupy an evergreen forest near the coast. The town has many amenities for sport lovers including 165 tennis courts. The nightlife is exciting and there are plenty of apartments, hotels and campsites to suit any taste or budget.

Your choice of resort is not limited to any one region, because Croatia has something for any type of holidaymaker. There are budget holidays for families, health spas for fitness buffs and apartment accommodation for travellers seeking independence, peace and tranquillity.

You want to plan the perfect holiday but you don’t want to break the bank buying the airfare.  What do you do?

A recent study of airline ticket transactions has revealed that if you make your purchase within six weeks of your intended travel dates, you will likely get the best price.  So, what does that mean?  On average, airfare prices at the six-week mark are about 6% less than the average fare.

Keep an eye on the airfare prices as you start shopping around.  You’ll notice that prices begin to rise dramatically about one week before the flight.  The departure date will usually have the highest price.

In addition to purchasing your tickets about six weeks in advance, here are some other ways to save money on airfare:

•    Do your research online. That means searching everyday.
•    Sign up for fare alerts from the airlines.
•    Talk to your travel mates and know their schedules so you can make the purchase right away.
•    Know the airline’s cancellation policy, just in case.
•    Commit to the holiday, not a specific destination.

Eco-friendly holidays have grown in popularity over the last few years, and there are many options available for those who want to travel abroad, but keep their carbon footprint as low as possible.  For those visiting the Spanish region of Catalonia, there is an interesting option available at Cabanes als arbres which translates as ‘cabins in the trees’.  That is exactly what happens, in fact, with guests staying in huts suspended in trees which are reached by suspended bridge and ladder.

Cabanes als arbres can be found in the forests of the Guilleries mountains in northern Catalonia.  The nearest city, Girona, is 35 miles away, while the nearest town to the area of Carretera de Vallclara, where the trees huts are located, is Sant Hilari Sacalm.  The forest is full of elm, evergreen oak and chestnut trees that provide the beautiful and colourful surroundings in which the tree huts have been constructed.  There are several different huts to stay in, each with its own design and furnishings, and all have been constructed using untreated natural wood.

To protect the trees’ ecosystem, no electricity or running water is supplied to the huts which are also fitted with biodegradable toilet facilities.  There is nothing primitive about staying at Cabanes als arbres, however, as the huts are warm and comfortable with a terrace from which guests can enjoy views of the surrounding forest.  Not surprisingly, they are popular with couples seeking a romantic break.

A full range of additional services are provided at the nearby Vileta, a 14th century Catalan-style farmhouse which includes the reception area, breakfast room and bar, lounge with Wi-Fi internet access, showers and parking facilities.  Guests can also make use of the swimming pool and large garden, while there are five double bedrooms available in the Vileta as alternative accommodation to the tree huts.

There are some important things to remember if you are travelling by car in and around Croatia. Not all car rental companies allow you to travel into Croatia from another region, so when you book your car, make sure you are clear on the rules.

Once you are in Croatia, although the roads are being constantly upgraded, some are still rather poor; it is therefore best to check on road conditions before you leave home. If you go to Croatia in the off-season, quite a few of the resorts will be closed, so take this into account when you are planning your holiday.

When shopping, you may find yourself in need of cash. Many travellers report that some of the ATM’s in Croatia dispense cash in local currency at better exchange rates than traveller’s cheques. If are stuck for cash, some of the tourist information centres will change money for you.

Finally, a few tips on shopping in Croatia. One thing you may not have been told about is that, in many markets and shops, bartering is acceptable. You can also haggle over renting rooms from private owners.  When buying cigarettes, alcohol and food items, you will probably find that the local products are cheaper than their imported equivalents or the range at the duty free stores. Finally, if you need help or directions from a local, you should be aware that most of the young people speak English, but not all the older generation do.

Andorra is located between Spain and France and is an increasingly popular country for ski holidays.  It’s not as busy as France’s ski slopes, for example, but it has some of the best views and the best skiing in Europe. There is the added bonus of duty free shopping, so it is a great destination for those seeking out cheap ski holidays. The other bonus is the lively après-ski!

The Ski Resorts

Andorra boasts a variety of ski resorts, many of which are especially appropriate for beginners and also for mid-level skiers. This makes Andorra a great place for the novice skier and it has excellent ski school facilities. Young skiers and snowboarders love to ski in Andorra, and the busy and active après-ski is an added attraction. Luckily, however, those seeking a peaceful secluded place can also enjoy the quieter resorts in Andorra.

Andorran Accommodation

As ski holidays go, Andorra offers a wide variety of choices of quality accommodation, representing great value for money and affordable prices. There are many welcoming hotels and self-catering apartments, although it is harder to locate catered chalets. If chalet living is the preferred choice for the holiday, however, there are excellent ski deals that include free places for children.

Après-ski

If nightlife is of particular interest, Andorra offers an atmosphere that is vibrant, busy, active, spirited and enthusiastic and there are lots of bars and clubs offering drinks at duty free prices well into the small hours of the morning.

Planning a cruise can seem overwhelming, especially if you are doing it for the first time.  A large number of decisions have to be made regarding destinations, dates and cruise lines, but if you take these one step at a time, the task does not have to be a difficult one at all. 

One of the first things you need to do is decide when you want to go, and how long for.  There are cruises of all lengths available, from short trips around the Caribbean to two week voyages around the South Pacific, so there is something for everyone.  Once you have decided when, you then need to consider your destination.  Do you want somewhere sunny and exotic, plenty of culture and interesting sights, or somewhere with dramatic scenery? 

There will be several cruise lines that offer voyages to each destination, so your next step will be to choose a ship to sail on.  Things to think about include your budget; should you go for luxury or cheap cruises?  Consider the kind of atmosphere you are looking for and the facilities and activities that are available on board. 

When you are ready to book your holiday, using an agent such as Imagine Cruising can help to simplify the process.  This allows you to sort out your flights and other arrangements at the same time as booking your cruise.  They can also offer helpful advice to support your decision making.  Imagine Cruising are also able to book extras such as hotels, attractions and airport parking; helping to ensure that your holiday will go smoothly. 

You’ve booked that adventure holiday of a lifetime and are all set for trips to exotic locations, but, you still want to keep in touch with family and friends back home.  They’ll want regular updates on what you’re doing and to know you’re safe. Unfortunately using your regular mobile network to keep in touch could prove very expensive.  Help is at hand, however, in the shape of the GO-SIM international prepaid sim card, perfect for cheap holidays 2013.

Simply take the existing sim card out of your mobile phone and replace it with a GO-SIM card.  Their international network provides coverage worldwide, and you can receive unlimited free calls in over 70 countries, while low cost calls can be made from 180 countries.  It’s also free to receive texts across the network with no connection charges or contracts with GO-SIM.

There’s no need to pop down to your local shop to top up your credit either.  Airtime can bought over the phone, online or by setting up an automatic recharge from your credit card.  24-hour customer service is also available.

Host to the world’s wildest parties and a premium holiday destination, Cancun, Mexico is the playground of the world’s party elite.  Come spring, the world’s best DJs make Cancun their home base with millions turning up at some of the biggest parties in the world including the Dayglow Paint Party – a celebration of colour, music and dance featuring traditional Mayan musical performances. Cancun draws holidaymakers from all over the world, especially from the United States.

The party never stops

The streets of Cancun present a remarkably quiet and restful picture by day but the beaches are pulsating with the sound of trance and dub.  Some of the world’s best DJs premiere their new albums here; so do not be surprised if you hear the latest tracks on the air in Cancun.  A popular spring break destination, the city has established itself as one of the world’s great party venues alongside Ibiza, Tel Aviv and Rio de Janeiro.  ‘The Parque las Palapas’ is the unofficial city centre for culture and relaxed entertainment with open- air food and artists. 

Cancun’s premier nightclubs are host to some of the most outrageous parties where the stars of film and stage rub shoulders with some of the world’s most travelled partygoers.  Some of the most visited clubs include Senor Frogs, The City, Cats, Dady’O, Terrasta Bar and Basic. Almost every party venue has themed nights and comes alive for the full-moon beach party. 

The Tranquillity of Natural Beauty

While Cancun is on the world map for its parties, little is seen of the city’s tranquil, natural getaways.  These include Isla Mujeres, a turtle farm that’s about 30 minutes by boat from the city’s jetty. They are famous for their turtle conservation program.  Río Semonument creto is an underground river complex that has spectacular stalagmite formations.  Isla Holbox is a nature preserve and a quiet fishing and birding island a short distance from Cancun.  Chichén Itzá and its iconic El Castillo monument make this UNESCO heritage site a destination that should be part of every travel itinerary.

An important aspect of choosing a type of cruise holiday to take is to know which types of cruises are available to you.  Did you know that you can choose from theme destination cruises, luxury cruises and river cruises?

A theme cruise could involve taking a cruise into an area where you can see the Northern Lights, for instance.  Other examples include trips that focus on whale watching, wildlife, or food and wine.

These types of cruises are both entertaining and educational at the same time.  For example, one cruise line offers a food and wine cruise that will take you to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia.  This is a wonderful way to discover new foods and recipes that you can take home with you to try.  As well as sampling wine, you will also visit castles, mosques and palaces!

For a different and exciting type of holiday, you should book a mystery cruise.  Imagine not knowing exactly where you are going and what you are going to see?  This would be perfect for a honeymoon or  an anniversary cruise, as the experience is something totally out of the ordinary.

Another popular cruise option is one that is aimed at people who are single.  Travelling alone today can be a bit intimidating, so what better way to safely meet lots of other people than to go on an organized cruise?  This could be a wonderful to make new friendships that may last for many years.

So why not take a good look at all the various types of cruises available and book your 2012 cruises today?