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October 14th, 2008 admin
Yorkshire is a great land of contrast. Yorkshire can boats mile upon mile and acre upon acre of stunning countryside with moors and dales, rivers and lakes, rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. Yorkshire also has vibrant cities, ancient market towns and some truly picturesque villages. Yorkshire is home to some of the most spectacular stately homes in the whole of Britain, many of the top costume dramas use these stately homes as there setting, so these are must for any TV or film fans.
The people of Yorkshire are very proud of there culture and heritage and as a result there are numerous fairs and festivals throughout the region showcasing it at its best. Towns and villages come alive with colour and music throughout the year for festivals such as the Festival of Food & Drink and a Roman festival celebrating the areas rich history and surprisingly important links with the Roman Empire. Bradford hosts an international film festival while one of Yorkshires favourite sons, David Hockney, has a fascinating gallery.
Get away from the daily grind of the rat race by heading to over 100 miles of stunning Yorkshire coast line. The varied coastline means that whether you are looking for golden sandy beaches, quite coves, rugged cliffs or picturesque fishing villages, you will find the ideal destination for you. Look for fossils on the Dinosaur Coast, take up surfing at a Scarborough surf school or take a relaxing fishing trip from one of the many fishing towns and villages along the coats.
So why not take a trip to Yorkshire for your next break.
For more information on a hotel in North Yorkshire visit Raven Hall North Yorkshire Hotel.
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September 26th, 2008 admin
Brittany is home to some of the best Golf courses in all of France and with many flights to Brittany available it’s a great location for a golfing holiday, so here is a list of what we consider to be the top 5 courses:
5. Dinard
Dinard is the oldest golf course in Brittany and the second oldest in France. The course was designed by famous golfing architect Willie Dunn in 1887. Despite it age Dinard has actually improved with age and can boast great golf, amazing costal views and a pretty Art Deco clubhouse. However this course shouldn’t be undertaken by the novice golfer, although is starts of easy as you make your way round the course the difficulty increases sharply and challenges even the most experienced golfer.
4. Nantes La Vigneux
Nantes Vigneux is a course that perhaps should be avoided by the novice golfers. The course is full of surprises that some may find daunting yet other will relish. Designed by Frank Pennink the course is full of lovely fairways, beautiful woodland and a cheerful relaxed atmosphere while the small greens and the river Cens add to the difficulty. After your first go you may not be rewarded with a great score yet this is one course you will keep coming back to and enjoy more and more every time you play it and with regular flights to St Brieuc its easy to come back.
3. Val Andre
Val Andre is relatively new course, especially when compared to many of Brittany’s old courses, at 15 years old, but don’t let its ages put you off as it is more than a match to its well established rivals. In fact Val Andre is regarded as one of the best ‘new’ courses in all of France. With its wide fairways and costal winds Val Andre is much more challenging than it appears. The course is maintained to a very high standard and the fantastic local seafood restaurants make this an ideal golf destination
2. Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent is probably the most famous golf course in Brittany. Saint-Laurent has of course played host to the PGA Championship on numerous occasions, offering a challenging parkland course. The course has been know to be tough off the back yet friendly off the front and you are going to have to use all the shots in your bag to get a good score.
1. La Baule
La Baule is the most popular golf course in Brittany. Not only does it offer one fantastic course but other another great course, the Red and Blue, people are still divided as to which of the courses is better. The course was designed by none other than Dave Thomas, Michel Gayon, Jack Nicklaus Jnr and Peter Alliss and they certainly don’t disappoint. The course has it own hotel meaning you can stay a few days and take on both course, not to mention try the many nearby restaurants and frequent the fantastic thatched-roof clubhouse. With many flights to St Brieuc in Brittany available you aren’t going to find many better golf breaks than this.
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September 24th, 2008 admin
Camping is once again in style. The numbers of us who are choosing to spend our times in tents rather than hotels are on the up. With a recent survey suggesting that 50% of Brits are choosing to stay in Britain for their holidays it seems camp sites across the country will be full for sometime yet.
There are many reasons why camping is once again a top holiday choice for most British families. The obvious one which is affecting many of us at the moment is the credit crunch. Families across the country are having to tighten their belts and foreign holidays in top hotels are looking like just one luxury to far at the moment. Choosing to go camping whether it is camping in France, or any other European country, or in Britain is a much more cost affective holiday.
Environmental concerns are also important for many families. Flying abroad for your holidays creates a massive carbon footprint, especially when compared to camping which has to be one of the greenest forms of holiday available at the moment.
Another factor behind the rise of camping is that many of today’s Mums and Dads went camping when they were young. Now that they have children they want to relive some of those fond childhood memories, as well as let there own children experience what they did many years before. Many are even choosing to go back to the very same campsites that they visited with there parents.
The call of the wild is a strong force on an increasing number of us. With the vast majority of people in Britain living in towns and cities the closest we ever get to the countryside is watching it out of the window as we drive past. But now this is changing, more and more of us want to get back to nature and explore the countryside all around us. The best way to do this of course is camping.
So why not join the fun and start planning your next camping holiday.
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September 23rd, 2008 admin
Going away for a weekend break in Britain? There are many different places to choose from and you will enjoy your time away at all of them but for a truly great british holiday there is only one place to go. The Lake District. Thanks to the credit crunch the popularity in UK based holidays has increased and many local companies have noticed a large upturn in bookings for a holiday in the Lake District in 2008.
The Lake District is hard to beat because of the sheer gorgeousness of the scenery around you. It doesn’t get much better than walking around the lake district on a sunny day, the atmosphere and vastness of the area gets inside of you and makes you relax within minutes of arriving.
If you are looking for a bit more of an adrenaline rush a Lake district holiday is still the place for you. Activities available include mountain biking, speed climbing and rock climbing. Most pro’s prefer the rough edges of the Eastern Crags for their rock climbing as there are a great number of different routes to climb up. Another favourite is Buttermere but this is not as well known by most tourists.
For biking enthusiasts the Grizedale Forest is one of the best places to cycle in Britain let alone the Lake District. The different routes cater to all abilities so the route you go will depend on how daring you are! Obviously for a popular location there are many places to stay especially if you are there self catering holiday in the lake district but I would advise you to book early as you don’t want to travel and find everywhere is booked!
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September 15th, 2008 admin
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park treats you to one of the most spectacular coastlines in all of Europe surrounded by Celtic and Arthurian legends. Exquisite areas of the sea are revealed along the routes along with fishing harbors, incredible cliffs that are attacked by the waves of the Atlantic and plenty of beaches to stop and cool off with a swim. Visit the beaches known for surfing like Whitesands and Newgale, Carreg Samson pre-historic cromlech, the medieval cathedral village of St. David’s, and the wild seascape of Strumble Head.
With beautiful accommodation available to stay in such as Celtic Haven’s luxury Tenby accommodation, the beautiful grounds and gardens in the area make it not only an incredible place for cycling but also for taking long walks where you can soak up the sun and get in touch with the nature all around you. Boat trips are also available or you could just lay on the beach and soak up the rays than going to the grocery store in your car and buying it all.
Pembrokeshire is one of the most diverse parts of all of Wales. If you are looking for someplace to get back in touch with nature, Pembrokeshire is a great place to plan your vacation. You will find rocky shorelines and beautiful beaches, small markets and grassy fields, ancient monuments and modern architecture all waiting for you to discover. Many have found that the best way to explore this enchanting part of West Wales is by bicycle.
There are over twenty established routes for riders to visit depending on what they would like to see and explore and depending on their cycling abilities. Some routes are coastal and others are based inland but all of them show you natural heritage and beauty that the area has to offer.
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August 28th, 2008 admin
A tourism company in Cumbria has recently announced that lake district holiday bookings over the summer months are up by 40% in comparison to 2007. The figures for coming months are set to maintain this excellent rise. They also mentioned that hotels and caravan parks were particularly busy and availability is said to be in short supply.
Popular towns like Windermere and Keswick have been jam packed with tourists from the UK and abroad. Keswick in particular have been attracting many holidaymakers with approximately 2,000 people visiting each day.
Lorna Egan the team leader for Keswick Tourist Information Centre believes that the credit crunch has been keeping British residents at home for their holidays this year, with a Cumbria holiday proving a real hit. “We had one lady who came in and said she usually went to Scotland, but could not afford the extra fuel cost and had decided to come to the Lake District.”
The Keswick TIC are also trying to get people to become green, become more aware of their carbon footprint by using public transport instead of their own cars. This is another thing that has been noted by Mrs Egan “Virtually every other request we get is for a time table and pensioners wanting to know if they can travel free on our buses.”
Tom Milburn the owner of Seacote caravan park in St Bees has also seen a massive boom in business but he believes that this isn’t all down to the credit crunch. The Lake District is world renowned for its stunning views, gorgeous landscapes and its this that Mr Milburn believes has interested holidaymakers instead of just saving a few pounds.
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August 27th, 2008 admin
According to an online survey, 50% of UK residents are choosing to take a British holiday. Nearly 2,000 people took the survey and it shows that people are genuinely concerned with the strength of the pound in comparison to the euro, their carbon footprint and the current economic climate.
This month one of Britain’s largest holiday operator released a statement saying that their bookings are up 10% in comparison to 2007. Whilst travel company Lastminute.com have confirmed that bookings in the UK is up by 16%.
The survey also asked them where their favourite UK holiday resort was and the list was unsurprising with Newquay, St Ives, Bournemouth and Weymouth proving most popular. Nearly 70% of these people stated that being able to book their British holiday at the last minute without the need for passports, jabs or booking flights was also a benefit. The fact that the most popular towns were seaside resorts that people went to as children was also seen as a reason for people to return.
Lastminute.com has also noticed that people booking a Newquay summer break with have nearly doubled in comparison to 2007. With its famous beaches and great attractions like the Eden Project, Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay Zoo and Waterworld its understandable why people are travelling down to Cornwall for their summer holidays.
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August 27th, 2008 admin
A recent poll taken by children around the UK has returned with the surprising news that nearly a third of them think that a holiday is boring! Unfortunately it seems that wherever parents decide to go, its proving a difficult job to keep the nations kids busy.
Maybe a nice trip to a summer camp will keep them happy? At least parents will be able to lay back and relax, no complaining and no theatrics. (at least not from the children…) If sending them away doesn’t work then perhaps try a few of my ideas below:
If thrill seeking is what your children are after then take them to Itry a specialist outdoor activity company in Snowdonia, Wales. There are loads of different activities which are bound to keep them busy and tire them out by the end of the day. The list includes Canoeing, Climbing, Coasteering, Skiing, Rope Climbing, Adventure days and much much more. Equipment is all provided for by Itry, although it is advised that you bring a change of clothes and a towel as its pretty likely that you’ll be getting wet at some point! For any climbing activity comfortable, warm clothing as well as a rainproof coat is a must.
This sort of activity is suitable for all members of the family, catering from kids to seniors. The instructors or guides are very experienced and their knowledge on their particular activity will keep you interested regardless of ability. One things for sure a day out with Itry is something you won’t be forgetting for a while!
To find out information on Snowdonia Holiday Cottages visit http://www.stsholidays.com/
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August 27th, 2008 admin
A hospital porter and his wife have spent the last 55 years visiting the Isles of Wight for their holidays and would never dream about going anywhere else. Leonard and Lillian Howard who are both 80 years old, first visited the Isle of Wight in 1953 and have returned without fail every year, for them the place is perfect and don’t see the need to ever go anywhere else.
The couple from London return for summer vacations, day trips and weekends away, apparently they’ve even gone on Isle of Wight holidays for Christmas and often taking relatives.
Mrs Howard is often recommending the holiday location to family & friends and it seems that the place is very close to their hearts. “We first visited the island in 1953 after a friend recommended it to us.”
“As soon as we got here we fell in love with the place and I’ve since recommended it to hundreds of other people.
“We could go to America or somewhere sunny like Benidorm but why travel all that way when all I want to do is sit in a deckchair and do my knitting?
“When we die we want our ashes to be scattered on Culver Cliff so we can look down on this beauty forever.
“It really is like paradise for us.”
This year the couple were surprised by their daughter Kim who booked a special trip for them to celebrate their 60th anniversary. The Isle of Wight Council were told about the story and arranged a unique reception to commemorate their Diamond anniversary.
They were joined by family members from all over the globe, some visiting from the USA to join in with the celebrations. Mrs Howard added “I keep telling everyone about the island and how wonderful it is and then when they go they always come back and tell me I was right.
“My favourite memory is of when my whole family, including my six brothers and one sister and their partners and in-laws, went over together.
“There were about 30 of us and we all played games on the beach. It was wonderful.”
This story shows that you don’t always have to go abroad to have a fun holiday, sometimes the best holidays are the ones on your doorstep. Find out more about holidays on Isles of Wight keep reading the Online Travel Blog!
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August 27th, 2008 Travel Guru
Nothing beats the fulfilling experience you’ll endure when visiting one of the many U.S. national parks. For as little as $80 you can purchase a pass that admits three adults and an unlimited amount of children under 16. Once you leave the park, that pass will admit you and all of your guests at no additional price whenever you decide to return.
With a trip to Yellowstone park you can enjoy the geyser eruption of Old Faithful, or take in the wildlife and marvel at the variety of animals on display. You can travel to Yosemite and view some of the tallest waterfalls in the world as they pour wondrously into the Yosemite Valley. Take your trip northwest into the Olympic and enjoy a spacious environment that essentially gives you three parks in one. Enjoy the temperate rainforests, sandy Pacific beaches or the amazing glacial-covered alpine reaches. Once you’re inside the gates, all of these sights and activities are offered at no cost.
The U.S. national parks make for a great family vacation that is sure to be cherished by everyone. While they offer excitement, there’s no amusement park that can provide such a return on such a small investment.
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