Monthly Archives: April 2009

4 Great places to visit in Italy

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Italy is well known and a common destination for many travelers. However, depending on what you want for a holiday will depend on where you go. This article looks at four popular Italian destinations each of which offer something a little different.

Milan ItalyMilan
Proving to be a popular part of Italy, Milan has become associated with people looking for great style and sophistication in a fantastic landscape. Milan is an ideal place to relax and provides a great destination for many people who are looking to unwind in a clean, stylish environment that offers the best of what luxury can bring. Renown for its attractive models and celebrity style status, Milan is a stunning part if Italy that will surpass your expectations.

Milan is a leading tourist attraction of Italy and is driven by its ongoing ability to attract tourism to the area. The area is home to many great attractions and an provides a vast array of historic and iconic works of art.

Tuscany ItalyTuscany

This is truly a most stunning area of Italy. Comprised of the beauty of nature and the breathtaking contribution of man both of which go hand in hand, this is an area that really allows you to embrace the essence of Italy. An area of which is populated with rural attractions and rolling hillsides and wonderful vineyards. Each element of the land has been defined by the people who inhabited it and the natural beauty that has been allowed to develop there.

Romantic walks along the rural paths will allow you to absorb the atmosphere and explore what the surrounding area has to offer. Once there it is will be easy to see why so many people choose to visit this stunning area every year.

Roma ItalyRome

An area of Italy steeped in history and breathtaking architecture this has become a place that is a step back in time. Providing excellent food and culture all round, this stylish and active part of Italy drives many visitors to taste the Italian culture each year. The people of Rome portray what the city is all about, occupying outside cafes drinking wine and espressos in the perpetual sunshine.

The architecture fits in well with the historic ruins that populate the city and become part of everyday life for all who life there. The laid back attitude encourages a peaceful approach to life which proves to be ideal for a holiday away. This is a great place to go for those who want a little culture and history in a relaxed and laid back pace.

Florence ItalyFlorence

Fashion and art collide in a part of Italy that inspires and stimulates. A busy centre that is the heart of many businesses’ Florence is most defiantly a developing area which is set to continue to grow. Attracting many tourists each year that come to see the wonders that the area offers Florence is a ‘must see’ destination for many travelers.

Offering an area of timeless beauty the surroundings only gets better with age and time. The support of their history shines on in the buildings and sculptures that they allow to populate the area.

With so much on offer in Italy you will be hard pressed to choose just one destination. If like many people you are looking for Villas in Tuscany or Self catering Tuscany based holidays try Hello Italy for a full range of villas and apartments.

Reasons to go on a Isle of Wight Holiday

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isle of wight

The Isle of Wight is the perfect destination for a family holiday, with something to do for everyone. Having chosen from one of the many ideal Isle of Wight Hotels your holiday kicks off with a relaxing trip across the Solent on one of the frequent car ferry services. Sit out on the top deck in the sunshine and enjoy the views as you approach the Garden Isle.

Once on the Island you will be able to choose from a wide range of destinations and attractions. For children there are several exiting attractions including Blackgang Chine and Robin Hill Country Park. There are also plenty of chances to see exotic animals at either Sandown Zoo or Bembridge Wildlife Encounter. For the young archaeologist there is the dinosaur museum in Sandown that brings those great creatures back to life. This can be followed by a trip to the beach where the eagle eyed can scour the cliffs to find their own fossils.

Isle of Wight Holidays don’t have to be all about the kids though. There is plenty of heritage to explore with trips to Brading Roman Villa, Mottistone Manor or Queen Victoria’s grand residence Osbourne House. For the active there are also over 200 miles of footpaths and bridleways to explore, with plenty of opportunities to stop for a quiet picnic or refreshment in a local hostelry.

With hundreds of local food producers you would expect the Island’s restaurants to provide a high standard of food and they don’t disappoint. Try the Spyglass Inn in Ventnor for the freshest seafood available daily. For an unusual experience take a trip to the Isle of Wight Garlic farm and sample their Garlic Beer or Garlic Ice Cream.

With so many reasons to come to the Isle of Wight, the hardest choice is what not to do!

Visiting Somerset

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somerset

Somerset is a county of contrasts. The county boasts sweeping beaches and ideal resorts for coastal holidays in Weston Super Mare, Minehead or Clevedon. These resorts are ideal for lovers of sand and sea. It’s here that you will find some of the country’s finest holiday parks ideal for a Caravan Holiday. Travelling inland and you will be greeted with beautiful countryside that really brings the county to life. You will find a wide range of wildlife in the National Park and the three areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty that the county boasts. Dotted throughout the countryside are a range of campsites from the most basic farm campsite to all weather pitches. Whatever your budget it’s easy to enjoy a Camping Holiday in Somerset.

Somerset is home to a great number of attractions and things to see and do which make Family Holidays in Somerset a guaranteed hit! These attractions include, Castles in Taunton and Dunster, historical wells, Glastonbury. History fans will love the manor houses that Somerset has to offer, including Barrington Court, Montacute and Tynesfield. Childrens will be delighted when you take them to the Cheddar Caves and Wookey Hole as this is one of the more exciting and spectacular family attractions in the county.

Somerset has many English Trust and National Trust properties that can be explored at your leisure.

Somerset is of course famed for it’s cider, and for good reason too. No holiday is complete without a visit to one of the many local producers to see a cider press in action and sample the finished product. Be sure to take some away as it’s the ideal accompaniment to those holiday barbeques!

From resorts and hotels to self catering and camping holidays- and everything in between – you will be well looked after from the minute you arrive in the county.

Ideas for Family holidays for 2009

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cornwall

With the current financial climate, families will be wanting to look for cheaper holiday solutions than going abroad. There is a whole host of cheap family holidays that can be had in the UK that often get overlooked by the families that tend to go abroad every year. In this blog post we will talk about a few of these family holiday ideas that you could consider for this summer.

Devon

Located in the South West of England, the county of Devon has plenty of holiday solutions for everyone. Torbay in South Devon is called the English Riviera as it is known for warm weather, sandy beaches and palm trees. North Devon is home to tourist hot spots such as Woolacombe and Ilfracombe with a great range of accommodation from luxury hotels to holiday parks that are ideal for Caravan Holidays in Devon.

Blackpool

Blackpool is ideal for families looking for a UK beach holiday. The seaside town in located in Lancashire and is on the coast of the Irish sea. The town has been popular since the 19th Century and relies heavily on the tourist trade. It has been said that there are more tourist beds in Blackpool than the whole of Portugal. Top attractions to visit are Blackpool tower North Pier, Pleasure Beach and The winter gardens

Northumbria

For families that enjoy walking holidays and the countryside, there is no better destination than Northumbria. Famed for its rolling hills and lush green fields, the county has many attractions for the whole family. Most famous is Hadrian’s wall that once stretched across width of what is now Northern England. Popular tourist accommodation comes in the form of the many quaint holiday cottages that are dotted through the countryside. So if you fancy a more relaxed holiday this summer, why not give Northumbria a chance.

Cornwall

Situated on the tip of the South Western peninsula of Great Britain, Cornwall is one of Britain’s most popular tourist destinations. The county once relied on mining and fishing industries, but not relies most on tourism.

The county’s spectacular landscape, mild climate and great beaches are all reasons to go and stay in one of the many holiday parks in Cornwall.

The Bets Walking Locations in Britain

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We are lucky in Britain to have many, many great locations for walking and hiking. They take in a variety of different terrain with mountain trails to costal footpaths and wooded walkways. Trails can be found all over the country so where ever you live or where ever you are planning to take your next holiday you are bound to find a great walk just minuets from you.

Below is a brief profile of some of the very best places for walking in the UK. They provide a range of walks, so if you are looking for a gentle stroll or challenging climb they will have something for you.

Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands are home to some of the biggest peaks in Britain, making for some of the most challenging walking treks you will find. Though the mountains sound like a really challenging climb they are certainly worth it as the offer some spectacular views of the beautiful Scottish Highlands. For those of you who are looking for something a little easier then there are plenty of gentle relaxing walks in the area as well. Fort William and Aviemore are regarded as the centre of walking in Scotland and are a great place to base yourself as they provide great accommodation and amenities.

Lake District

The Lake District is regarded as one of the most beautiful area of Britain. The Lake Districts mix of high peaks, wide lakes and deep valleys make for a great variety of different walking conditions. While on your walks you will be able to take in some fantastic scenery, some of the very same scenes which inspired people like William Wordsworth. The Lake District has a whole range of accommodation to choose from, ranging from B&B to Spa Hotels.

Peak District Cottages

Peak District

Ideally situated in the heart of England the Peak District is one of the most popular areas to visit in the whole of Britain. The area is home to some great landscapes making an ideal walking in the Peak District holiday. Despite its name the Peaks are mainly made up of gentle rolling hills making them great to walk for people of all abilities and experience levels. There are many great forms of accommodation to be found in the Peaks  from friendly hotels to Peak District cottages and the area has plenty of great links to the like of Sheffield and Manchester.

Things to see and do on your Snowdonia Holiday

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Wales Cottages are brilliant source of accommodation when on a Snowdonia holiday. But once you get there what are you going to do and see, well in the blog post we are going to look at some of the best tourist attractions in Snowdonia and around North Wales.

Bodnant Garden

bodnant garden

One of the finest gardens in the world, Bodnant garden is owned and maintained by the National Trust and is located near the river Conwy. The gardens have stunning views that over look the Snowdonia range and are split into two main sections. One of side consists of Italianate terraces, herbaceous border and shaded lawns. The second half sits lower than the first and is known as the Dell. It is set on a steep sided valley that has the River Hiraethlyn running along its base.

For more information on the Bodnant Garden click here

Snowdon Mountain Railway

snowdon mountain railway

The Snowdon Mountain Railway has been a big attraction in North Wales since 1986. The train travels to the summit of the Mt Snowdon, which is the highest mountain in England and Wales at 3,560ft tall.

For over 113 years, visitors to the area have travelled on the Mountain Railway and taken in the stunning sights of the countryside that can be seen from such heights.

Opening in Spring 2009, the new Visitor Center at Snowdon’s summit will provide a warm welcome and facilities to visitors who make it to the summit.

For more information on the Snowdon Mountain Railway click here

King Arthur’s Labyrinth

King Arthur\'s Labyrinth

This exciting visitor attraction is great for anyone who is interested in the legend of King Arthur. Bringing the story of dragons and epic battles to life, this underground boat ride lets visitors journey into the depths of the spectacular caverns under Braichgoch Mountain. Along the ride, you will be treated to light and sound effects that help tell the story of King Arthur. The ride will end as you travel along the subterranean river and into the grounds of Corris Craft Center.

For more information on King Arthur’s Labyrinth click here

This is only a small selection of what is on offer while on your Snowdonia holiday, for more Snowdonia attractions click here

Isle of Wight information

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Isle of Wight BeachThe Isle of Wight offers a whole host of activities and events through out the year and you would be excused for not knowing about them all. Deciding on what to see, when to go and what not to miss can be a time consuming task trawling from one site to another picking out the ‘what not to miss’ events.

Help is at hand. There is a great resource for anyone looking for more information about what is happening when, on the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight Attractions website provides you all the information that you need for your visit and is updated on a regular basis. Providing information on pubs, attractions, beaches, galleries, things to do and how to get there, this little gem could save you a lot of time.

Running since 2003 this one of the better guides to the Isle of Wight I have seen. The range of activities highlights the best and the up-to-date information makes this a first stop for anyone looking for general Isle of Wight information.

Visit http://www.isleofwightattractions.co.uk/ now as start planning your next trip to the Isle of Wight.

The National park of England and Wales (part 2)

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Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is blessed with a wide variety of landscapes with flowers strewn meadows to rocky peaks, lush fragrant heather to thick green woodland. With so much to see and plenty to do it’s no wonder that 13 million people a year choose to make a trip here.

Exmoor

Exmoor is one of the smallest and prettiest National Parks in England. The park covers both North Devon and Somerset and contains stunning landscapes and is packed full of wildlife. The wildlife that calls Exmoor home has recently come under the spotlight thanks to Johnny Kingdom and his BBC nature program. The great scenery has also been a star of the recent shows with its heather strewn moors, ancient woods, green valleys and golden sandy beaches delighting millions of viewers.

Northumberland

The most northerly of all the National Parks in England, the park shares it boarders with Scotland. One of the biggest and most famous features of the park is Hadrian’s Wall. The ancient wall built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans still stands in many places today as do remains of the many forts that protected the wall. The walls remains are some of the most famous Roman remains outside of Italy.

Brecon Beacons

The youngest of the Welsh National Parks, the Brecons lie on the boarder with England. The most famous and popular landmark of the National Park is the Black Mountain range which is very popular with hikers.

The New Forest

The newest of all the National Parks in England and Wales, the New Forest only received its title in 2005. despite only recently being granted the National Park status the area has long been popular with people since William the Conqueror made the Forest a Royal Hunting ground. Since this time the forest has thankful remained largely unchanged and is a haven for wildlife. Great New Forest accommodation and access to surrounding towns, cities and motorways have helped the area become a firm family favourite for spending their summer holidays.

new forest accommodation

The Norfolk Broads

An honoree mention goes to the Norfolk Broads who are not technically a National Park but do enjoy many of the same levels of protection that National Parks have. The Norfolk Broads are made of up a series of beautiful waterways; many miles of which have are navigable by boat. This has created a hugely popular destination for tourists who want to enjoy a relaxing holiday sailing around the broads and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Why you should be taking your summer holiday in Wales

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Short Break Wales

The traditional summer holiday is as much apart of many families life as Easter and Christmas and just like the for mentioned holidays, the summer holiday is looked forward to with great excitement. If you still haven’t planned your summer holiday yet this year, or are worried that the current financial situation will mean you can’t afford a break then you may want to consider a long or short break Wales for a great cost affective holiday.

Wales is a great holiday location which is often unfairly overlooked by people planning their holidays. Wales should defiantly be considered when you are planning your next holiday as it has so much to offer tourists. Whether you are a family, a couple or a group of friends you are bound to find something in Wales that will delight and entertain you.

There is such a variety of activities on offer throughout Wales that no matter what kind of holiday you are looking for there is bound to be something for you. For families there are a number of great family friendly attractions such as Animalarium, Dinosaur Park and GreenWood Forest Park. If you prefer your holidays a little more action packed then your in luck as across the country there are a range of activities from surfing to caving, windsurfing to climbing and kayaking to abseiling. For something a little more sedate there are a number of great walking trails offering stunning views of the beautiful Welsh countryside.

There are many great restaurants to be found in Wales. Cardiff has some of the very best in modern cuisine, while towns and villages will have some great local restaurants often offering local delicacies made from local produce. Wales also has some top class accommodation with chic 5 start hotels, luxury resorts, cosy B&B’s and welcoming Wales holiday cottage.

Best campsites in the UK

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A camping experience is something that can be enjoyed by anyone and Europe has a vast amount of places to venture off to. Scotland, Cornwall, Devon and France all offer something different yet all allow you to really get to grips with the fundamentals of what camping is all about.

With so much on offer at the various destinations through out Europe you and your family will be hard pushed to pick just one of these popular destinations. Some people opt to move between campsites, and who could blame them with something so do in each one as well as the freedom to move around and really explore the countryside.

This blog post will highlight some of the best places to go camping in the UK and help you narrow the search for the perfect holiday destination right here in the UK.

camping in Culzean Castle in the UK

First on the list is Culzean Castle in Ayrshire Scotland. This stunning club site is located with in the grounds of a castle. The site offers fantastic views across the ocean looking out towards that Isle of Arran. The castle is situated in the edge of the cliff faces the sea and is a fine example of Robert Adams architecture, and is well worth the trip alone.

North of England Camping

Choice number two is Barnard Castle, based in County Durham in the North of England. This popular destination is well known for being a good base for exploring Teesdale and the Yorkshire Dales. This location is a must for walkers and cyclists that are looking for somewhere different to explore. Known as ‘Barney’ by the locals this is a place that will be a talking point for weeks after your holiday.

Staffordshire camping

Our third option is Cannock Chase in Staffordshire and is part of Central England. Surrounded by stunning hills and forests and a range of wildlife this is a treat for those who really enjoy the great outdoors. Situated on the edge of what some consider being one of the Midlands’ greatest beauty spots, this is an ideal location for walkers who are looking to explore somewhere new.

Hertfordshire camping holiday

Location four is Hertford in Hertfordshire in the South East of England. Close enough to catch the train into London yet a million miles away from the everyday stress of work and the daily grind. Based on the outskirts of the country town this is an ideal place for a little adventure not to far away.

South Devon Camping

Dartmouth in Devon provides site number five. Located in the popular South west of England, this site looks out over the breathtaking South Hams coast. This Dartmouth site is a five minute drive away from the Dartmouth town that is full of local shops and stunning views. The award winning Blackpool Sands is a near by beach that offers a great day out for all the family.

So there we have just five, out of many hundreds of popular locations situated in the UK alone. Camping in Europe offers many more popular destinations ideal for the camper. If the UK isn’t your ideal destination then what not try an Abroad Camping Holiday for a wider choice of destinations?