Great Cycling Holiday Destinations in Europe

Cycling holidays are a great way of seeing some of the most attractive rural landscapes that can be found throughout Europe and also gives the holidaymaker the additional bonus of being able to enjoy Europe's mild summers - whilst getting in a good bit of exercise to boot! Here we examine some of Europe's top cycling holiday destinations:

Cycling in Provence, France

There are fewer areas of greater natural beauty throughout France than Provence - and what better way to get around the area than by bike as you pass through this rich and historic area of Europe. With Roman and medieval settlements to explore, and for the more adventurous; Mount Ventoux to traverse (the highest point in the Provence region). Meanwhile your trip will be broken up nicely with fantastic French food to keep you well fuelled for the next day's ride!

Cycling in Sardinia, Italy

Pack up your mountain bike and rucksack and head off for a great Italian cycling holiday in Sardinia. Enjoy all the ups and downs of this exciting cycling terrain as you head through Supramonte and enjoy all the great unnatural scenery that Sardinia offers visitors from around the world - but make sure you are well filled on the local pasta as these trips are not for the faint hearted!

Photos of Split, Croatia

If you are travelling to Croatia than visiting the city of Split on the Dalmatian coast is an absolute must. And here are some of the reasons why...

Rigor or Relaxation – Exploring 2 Sides of Canada Holidays

In this blog I often look to document many of the great holiday destinations that Europe has to offer, but as a traveller of the world it’s always good to look at areas further afield. In this post we examine 2 different sides of holidaying in Canada – a beautiful and expansive country that certainly offers something for everyone, whether you are the all-action outdoor type or looking for a more relaxing holiday experience.

Canada for Adventurers!

If your personal idea of a great holiday is an outdoor, adventurous affair then you can hardly pick a better holiday destination throughout the world than Canada. With miles of rural, untouched landscape to explore Canada offers any intrepid outdoor type enough excitement and appeal to last several lifetimes. The Rocky Mountain range cover an area of approximately 3000 miles – plenty to keep even the most daring of explorers busy – and are perfect for anyone looking for outdoor experiences including fishing, camping, walking and climbing.

A More Relaxing Side of Canada 

Although perhaps not the first destination that springs to mind when many people consider the best holiday destinations to take a cruise break – Canada actually offers some stunning water born experiences. Cruises in the Alaska region offer breath-taking sites and scenery – as well as the opportunity to visit some of the region’s best city destinations such as Vancouver. As you would expect, liners operating in this region offer luxurious service and facilities, making Canada cruises an excellent getaway for those looking for a more relaxing and refined side of Canada.

Exploring North and South Italy by Car

Exploring North and South Italy by Car

Italy is split in two by the Appenini Mountain range and either side of its rocky midriff is a country that’s easy to fall in love with.  Rent a car here and you’re free to explore anywhere in the Bel Paese (Beautiful Country).

The best way to enjoy Italy in its entirety is from the top down, beginning at one of the most loved driving roads in the world – the Stelvio Pass.  Tucked beneath the Swiss border, this awe-inspiring, peaceful and trafficless strip of road can set you off from Bornio, through Parma to the city of Milan – one of the coolest places on the planet.

If you want to skip the raw Italian inland and get straight to the coast, start your holiday in Pisa.  The Leaning Tower isn’t the only draw to the beautiful shoreline city – there’s up to 20% off car hire from Pisa Airport if you book in October.

Go through Holiday Autos Car Hire to get the discount – you can have a two-door mini from £9 a day and it comes with air-con which is a godsend in the Mediterranean heat.  So, once you’re finished driving your mini around the cobbled streets of Pisa’s city centre, re-enacting scenes from the Italian Job, you’re free to head south in style…but don’t enter the Mezzogiorno (Southern Italy) without spending the night in Rome first.

Rome

The capital city is just 3.5 hours down the western coastline from Pisa and is home to the mesmerising Colosseum, Spanish Steps and Vatican City.  Rest up for the night in a hotel along the moonlit River Tiber and look forward to experiencing your very own Rome the next day.

You can choose to stay in Rome for the rest of your holiday, with so much to do and see there, nobody could blame you.  Still, if you want to continue south then you have to start the day with a wood-roasted coffee at Sant Eustachio – the best café in Rome (and probably Italy). It’s a family-run business founded in 1938 and the device they use for making the coffee has been functioning for over 60 years. Plus it’s just 10 minutes away from Vincenzo alla Lungaretta, a bistro marking the next stop on the tour.

The narrow street isn’t short of street performers and charming rose sellers but it is a nice, secluded spot for some brunch before the big drive out the city and towards the toe of the ‘Big Shoe’ that is Italy.

The South

Southern Italy begins in Naples and becomes even more beautiful and raw the further south you travel.  The beauty of a car rental in Italy is that you can reach this hot, almost tropical side to the country and be back up to Pisa or Milan the next day.

While you’ve got the car, make the most of your time in the south and hit the Amalfi Coast.  Set off in either direction and you’ll be spoilt with paradisiacal scenery: You can visit the Castello di Arechi to get the best views and photos of the Mediterranean possible or park up at Spiaggia Del Fornillo beach, just make sure you’ve packed some towels in the boot. One thing is for sure, before you leave the area get a natural lemonade from a roadside stall – the best thirst quencher ever.

There is far too much of Italy to fit into one blog but hopefully, you’ve got a better idea about just how individually amazing both the north and south can be.  The Apennines split the country down the middle and we’ve only discussed the western side here, travel back up on the East coast and you’ve got a host of Adriatic Sea towns to explore all the way up to Venice – a blog worthy location in itself.

Things to Look for in Holiday Accommodation

Without question central to any holiday experience is accommodation - after all, however grand or humble your options may be, everyone needs a place to stay the night and store their belongings - and whether your budget is large or small its always a key consideration to take into account as part of any travelling experience. Its perfectly natural that whether backpacking on a budget or living the life of luxury, any holidaymaker will always tend to try and find a place to stay that offers the sort of facilities and features that suit their individual needs and tastes - but of course the choice of accommodation must also offer the best value for money relative to how much you can afford to spend. Here we examine what features to look for in your lodgings when travelling Europe and how to get the most out of your money.

Location, Location, Location

When picking accommodation  its proximity to your main places of interest in the area must always be a key consideration. Sure, not everyone who visits Venice can afford to stay on the Grand Canal or in St Mark's square - but there are often cheaper hotels and hostels tucked away in close proximity to major tourist attractions in holiday destinations across Europe that offer great location for little cost.

Search Online for the Best Deals

If money is no object then Europe is indeed your oyster when it comes to first class hotels, but even some accommodation that may seem out of reach to the vast majority of us may be more affordable than you think if you have the time to seek out the best European hotel deals online in advance. Off peak seasons may offer rich pickings for holidaymakers who don't necesarily have the deepest of pockets.