Best Holiday Destinations in Turkey: Bodrum

With the seemingly never-ending bout of torrential downpours we have been experiencing across the UK over the last 2 weeks it seems we hard working Brits are currently faced with 2 options if we are to save ourselves from misery:

1. Build an Ark
2. Book a holiday abroad! 

As the former seems a little drastic - and perhaps beyond the meagre resources of the average office worker such as myself - we can only therefore look to take the option of seeking out sunnier climes for sources of inspiration, hope and relief from the perpetual gloom of the British Isles.

     When it comes to catching a bit of sunshine this spring, why not look to Turkey as an affordable and easily accessible option? With thousands of people heading to Turkey from the UK each year it is perhaps not surprising that there are many great holiday destinations to choose from in this intriguing and expansive land – but in Bodrum you may find a location that offers much more than just sunshine and beaches and the pleasant refuge offered by its warm spring Mediterranean climate.

     Rich in history stemming from its historical Greek, Persian and Ottoman occupation, Bodrum as a settlement can be traced back to around 600 years BC – meaning there is much to be learnt from the city and its past. Some of Bodrum’s most popular tourist attractions include the impressive medieval period Castle of St Peter which dominates the city skyline. Constructed in the 1500s, the castle is a must see for anyone taking flights to Bodrum this spring.

     There are also some much older areas of historical interest in the city - including the Bodrum amphitheatre - which has been recently restored and carries a capacity of over 15000 - and the remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. This was once a wonder of the ancient world, but be warned some may find the remains a little underwhelming – although extremely historically significant in its own right nonetheless.

Reminiscing About Venice - My Holiday in Pictures

Being sat back at home in freezing cold England makes me want to go travelling again, and although I am set for a short break in Riga in February - which I'm sure will be great fun, its not exactly going to be warm there either at that time of the year! All the cold weather has made me think about some of the great holiday destinations in Europe I have been privileged enough to have visited in the last few years, and in turn this inspired me to start looking back at some of my old photo collections from these trips. One set of photos that made me feel a lot warmer inside were my pictures of Venice, taken during my trip to the stunning Italian city during summer 2010. I have shared below some of what I consider to be my favourite pictures from Venice here, so you too can see what a wonderful city it is - making it surely one of the best holiday destinations in Europe.

Grande Canal


Venice's biggest and most famous of all its many waterways in all its glory!

Gondolas


Venice's world renowned mode of transport - but not a cheap one!

Bridge of Sighs


There are few more famous and architecturally stunning bridges across the world - but it is now sadly covered in advertising boards :(

Fish Market


Eating fresh fish and seafood in Venice's restaurants was one of the highlights of my visit - and the fish market from which it all is bought is a great thing to visit and experience in itself.

Stunning Beaches in Europe

Winter’s come-a-knocking but if you’re a sun worshipper looking to escape the wintery blues of home, here are some of the most stunning destinations in Europe to help you plan your next beach holiday.

Source: Creative Commons

You may be stuck in Coldsville at the moment, but keep your hot water bottle close and keep on dreaming of summer 2012. Here are some gorgeous beach destinations to keep your spirits up until the bitter weather blows over...


The Best Beaches in Europe:

Croatia

Croatia has grown into one of the more recent top party destinations for group holidays. But the country still maintains its dignity as a cultured and beautiful holiday location. The Blue Flag Baska Voda beach sits neatly in the breathtaking view of the Biokovo Mountains and Krka National Park is also a coveted hotspot of incredible beauty.

Bulgaria

Known worldwide for its golden sands, Bulgaria is still a place of unspoiled beauty. Because the beaches are closely monitored and regularly maintained, the area will hopefully remain unspoiled for as long as possible.

Greece

Myrtos beach in Kefalonia is one of the most dramatically stunning beaches around, a true picture of beauty and a wonderful melting pot of soft sands and limestone pebbles.

Top Winter Travel Destinations in Europe

Winter is a beautiful season for travel and some of the best holidays in Europe are during the colder season. Whether you’re interested in living abroad during the winter, or you just want a short weekend break, here are some of the most beautiful winter travel destinations...


1. Austria – the city of Vienna is a stunning centre of architectural beauty, and in the winter it is a treat for all of those who appreciate the romance of a cold winter’s day. Austria also offers various skiing locations with luxury chalets and cottages.

2. Finland – home to Lapland, Finland is truly one of the most beautiful winter holiday destinations in the world. It is also one of the few places on the globe where you can catch the breathtaking sights of the Northern Lights.

 
Source: Creative Commons
 
3. Germany – Frankfurt is home to the original Frankfurt Christmas markets. Here you can enjoy the sights of the annual giant Christmas tree and a variety of interesting market stalls. Enjoy a mulled wine as you watch the world go by or shop around for unique gifts and crafts which have been handmade by locals.


4. Iceland – Reykjavik is one of the strangest cities in the world, surrounded by landscapes which are just out of this world.

 
Source: Creative Commons

Best Holiday Destinations in Europe: Edinburgh

Edinburgh is widely regarded as one of the best holiday destinations to visit in the UK and offers a fantastic mix of rich Scottish history, heritage and traditions fused with the latest ground breaking arts, comedy and experiences. Named as a UNESCO world heritage site in the year 1995, the city is famed for its varied architecture and cultural experiences. With attractions and buildings spanning its long and rich history, Edinburgh offers holidaymakers the chance to combine visits to medieval castles, palaces and buildings as well as impressive gothic styled churches which also find spaces standing alongside some truly stunning modern architectural creations.

     Edinburgh is also without a doubt one of the best holiday destinations in the UK to experience some superb and exciting live events that are sure to excite and intrigue the British tourist visiting the city for a weekend, as well as backpackers travelling across Europe and visitors to Scotland taking holidays from overseas. Such is the wide reaching nature of the appeal of events such as Hogmanay (Scottish New Year celebrations) the Edinburgh festival and Fringe, and the pomp and ceremony of its world famous military tattoo that those visiting the city should plan well ahead. Indeed, getting accommodation of any kind in Edinburgh during the festival season around August to September and during the new year is extremely difficult and may need to be booked as long as a year in advance in some circumstances.

     Accessing the city from the UK can be easily achieved by train, with the main station Waverly regularly accepting numerous daily services from across the country. If you are visiting Edinburgh from Europe or further afield it is possible to fly to Edinburgh international airports and then take a Edinburgh airport taxi into the city. The airport is the most popular and frequented in Scotland and takes in flights from around Europe and the rest of the world.

Non Euro Holiday Destinations - Botswana Safari Holidays

If you are considering a holiday destination beyond the realms of Europe, Botswana safari holidays are becoming increasingly popular - and for good reason. Botswana is an interesting country which features so much more than just deserts and arid land.  Botswana has some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities in the world making this location a very popular destination in which to take a safari holiday.  A key part of the country in which to view some of this wildlife is the oasis of lagoons and waterways which make up the Okavango Delta. The lush watering holes which prove a draw for the wildlife will ensure that any safari holiday here will provide a wide range of exotic flora and fauna, including wild birds, giraffe and zebra.

Visitors looking to see the magnificent elephant herds should ensure that they also spend time in the Chobe region, where the elephant population is high. The beauty of Botswana is such that whatever time of year travellers visit there will be fantastic sights to see.  When visiting between November and March, tourists will be able to watch the migratory activities of various birds and between December and May is a great time to see vegetation and blooming flowers.

Botswana safaris make for the perfect holiday for any family. It is a learning experience for children and adults and a rare opportunity to see some of the most amazing creatures in the wild. Botswana ensures that tourists will be able to choose between a variety of safaris. They can, for example, spend time on small boats in the river viewing birds and marine life, or they can venture into the plains to see wild elephants, baboons and other unique animals.

A Botswana safari holiday will be like no other holiday and will create family memories which will last a lifetime.

Heading Out to Malaga for Your holidays

There has always been a tradition for Brits to head abroad for their summer holidays, and when you consider the steady stream of poor weather that we all have to endure throughout the winter months it really is no surprise! By the time we enter spring, everyone is longing for the sort of sun and warmth that can only be provided by a weather system not found in our own country!

Obviously finances play a huge part both in terms of where people go, and whether or not they go at all. With this in mind it is important to consider the more affordable places to visit which will give you a total chance of scene, as well as climate.

One of the first places to spring to mind is Malaga, in Spain. Spain is renowned for being a cheap place to stay. Food and drink is a fraction of what you would expect to pay here in the UK, and on top of that, the coastal resorts surrounding Malaga have wonderful weather records. Of course, despite the fact that flights to Spain are in general very affordable, you still have to consider trying to find the best deals, which is why you should think about having a look at off peak flights to malaga. You can save a lot of money by searching in this way and getting there cheaply will only make you value your holiday even more!

Best Holiday Destinations Outside Europe: New York

New York is a city that inspires all of us regardless of where we live in the world. Although Europe holds many fantastic cities, beach holiday destinations and other superb rural places to visit, there is no place in the world quite like the big apple. The city is arguably the most diverse in terms of its sheer diversity - with cuisine, cultural influences and shopping experiences from so many unique and different far flung areas of the world.

     New York also boasts some of the worlds best known and most frequented tourist attractions. These include the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and the Empire State Building to name just a few.

     With so many different places to see and with the sheer size of the city, getting around on foot can be exhausting and taxis can be expensive options. In order to see the city in an affordable and fun way, visitors to the city may choose to take up the option of sightseeing tours buses to take in great views of the most famous sites in New York. There are many companies who offer this service, but Forever Buses New York are amongst the best.

Best Non Euro Holiday Destinations: Go On Safari!

If you are looking for an exotic holiday destination with a difference this winter then why not jet off on one of the great safari holidays available in locations across East Africa. If you tire of looking at the architecture, museums and art galleries that adorn Europe’s great cities and instead are looking for one of the best holiday destinations that will allow the visitor to get away from urbanised areas, then there is probably no better way of experiencing the great outdoors, going back to nature and seeing Africa’s vibrant and varied wildlife.

A Kenya safari will doubtlessly offer the traveler a holiday of a lifetime - and unique experiences of another world and way of life. With cultures, peoples and landscapes so different to those found in both urban and even rural Europe safari holidays can offer the visitor and exciting step into the unknown. With incredible natural wildlife seldom seen in the wild in many other locations across the world that includes mighty elephants, fleet footed leopards and powerful rhinos, there is no better way to enjoy these animals in there natural habitat than going away on Safari.

Top 5 Online Resources for Budget Travelers in Europe

In this blogpost were going to be looking at what I believe are the 5 of the best online resources and travel websites to help you plan, prepare for, book and ultimately enjoy your dream backpacking holiday to all of the best holiday destinations in Europe. With the following travel tips and advice hopefully you will find some useful resources to help your trip go smoothly - and also save you a heap of money too!

1. InterRail - http://www.interrailnet.com/

It may be somewhat cliché, but as any young backpacker will tell you these days, getting around Europe with an InterRail travel card is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to travel - and importantly give you the great amount of flexibility you will need to enjoy all the brilliant backpacking holiday destinations in Europe. Booking a ticket online is quick and easy, and the travel cards are valid in the vast majority of countries in Europe.

2. Hostel Bookers - http://www.hostelbookers.com/

Quite possibly the biggest and best online resource for backpackers who are looking to compare and book hostels in Europe and indeed, across the rest of the world. I used have used this site when traveling, booking holidays, stag dos - you name it. Its really easy to use, has an extremely simple booking system and has many useful reviews from likeminded travelers to help you make informed decisions on where to stay based on your personal requirements whether it be location, cost, atmosphere etc.

3. Gaynors Sports of Ambleside - http://www.gaynors.co.uk/

While far less well known outside of the UK than the 2 sites I highlight above, Gaynors is a great shop for anyone looking to take on a backpacking holiday, camping trip or who simply enjoys the great outdoors. Their shop in Ambleside in the Lake District is packed with great gear at low prices or you can also save time and money by buying online. Whether you are in the need of backpacks, waterproofs or boots they have hundreds of products from well known outdoor brands and tend to have some great deals available throughout the year.

4. Low Cost airline Guide - http://www.low-cost-airline-guide.com/

Need help on finding the availability and price of cheap flights to Europe? This great resource is one of the quickest and easiest ways to compare and find out the latest flights online with this low cost airline guide. Listing all of Europe’s best holiday and backpacking flight destinations in the UK, Spain, Romania, Russia, Norway, Serbia, Portugal and pretty much anywhere else you can think of - you’re sure to be able to find the details you need to plan and book your flights whilst traveling in Europe.

5. World Backpackers Forum

If you are planning a backpacking trip or simply need help along the way its nice to be able to share your thoughts, questions and concerns with other likeminded individuals online. With this travel forum you can find backpacking tips and advice, ask questions, raise concerns you may have and generally soak up the knowledge and info of other people who are enjoying their traveling in Europe and other holiday destinations around the world.