The Mediterranean is synonymous with the cruising world and cruise ships have travelled to this location for many years but what exactly keeps us coming back for more each year?

Mediterranean cruises

Often considered the most popular cruise destination for British travellers, Mediterranean cruises account for as much as 39% of the cruise market. Considering that 2011 saw the number of cruise passengers exceed 20 million for the first time, this means there is an excessively high volume of people travelling to the Med – with plenty of reasons to do so.

The weather

The weather in the Mediterranean is one of the main reasons why people choose to go on a cruise here. To get the best weather, you will probably want to visit during May or June, or at the beginning of autumn during September or October. The temperatures are still warm at these times, but will be more comfortable than in the height of summertime. You will also avoid the crowds that accumulate during the peak months of July and August.

The culture

Cruises, which take you to locations such as Italy or Greece, will undoubtedly provide you with culture. There is plenty of history surrounding this area of the world and this is what continues to attract tourists. Furthermore, you can find some of the world’s oldest and greatest monuments around the Mediterranean, including the historical wonders of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

The food

The food is so diverse in the Mediterranean, that during onshore excursions you will certainly get to sample some of the local cuisine. The Mediterranean is especially popular with seafood fanatics, but there are many other lovely dishes to try.

The price

A cruise to the Mediterranean is fairly cheap too, with a number of attractive cruise deals making the destination even more affordable. Obviously prices will vary depending on who you book with, when you travel and how long your trip lasts, but competitive prices can be found throughout the year. Firms such as Cumbria Cruise even offer last minute cruises to the Mediterranean for those looking for a spontaneous trip that doesn’t cost a fortune.

The sights

There are some fantastic ports to visit whilst you are on a Mediterranean cruise too. Venice is always a popular option and the city looks fantastic as the cruise ship begins it journey through the Giudecca Canal. Other popular destination ports include Monte Carol and Istanbul – providing varied experiences for all passengers.

Tenerife by roberto@zenvoid.org (creative commons)

The Playa De Las Americas in Tenerife is an excellent destination for a family holiday. This lovely area has a lot to offer people of all ages and interests. From the lively party district of Veronicas to the gorgeous sandy beaches and warm waters there is a lot to enjoy in this wonderful destination.

Planning Family Holidays

It couldn’t be easier to plan your family holiday to Playa De Las Americas this year. All the information you need to plan and book your holiday is now available online. All you have to do is go online and search for flights and accommodation. You can even book and pay for your holiday over the internet and this saves a lot of time and hassle.

One of the great things about the researching online is that you can also look up reviews about hotels from other guests. This means you can get a better idea about how the hotel performs in real life away from all the publicity literature. This can help you decide which hotel would be best for you and your family.

Accommodation

It is important to consider your family’s interests before you book your hotel. This will help you to pick accommodation that is close to the right attractions and entertainments and also suitable for your needs. Don’t forget that Playa De Las Americas is the party destination of Tenerife. Some areas offer 24hr festivities so if you have a younger family you may want to look for one of the quieter districts.

• Choosing a location for your hotel can take just a little online research. For example if your family loves the beach then Hotel Vulcano is a good idea.
• This lovely modern hotel is just 300 metres from the beachfront and also offers a large outdoor swimming pool.
• Onsite facilities are excellent with modern rooms, private balconies and a snack bar and restaurant.
• The Dream Noelia Sur, Tenerife is also just a few metres from the beach. Known for its warm friendly welcome this modern hotel can offer a range of rooms including those with private balconies and Jacuzzis.
• There are onsite facilities which include a swimming pool, snack bar and buffet restaurant.
• There are also a number of family-orientated hotels available. The Bitacora Hotel can offer family rooms, has a children’s play area, a swimming pool with slides and also a programme of activities for kids and adults to enjoy.
• This hotel is also located close to the beach, shops and entertainments so there are plenty of things to see and do for all the family.

To ensure you get the accommodation that you require, it is important that you book early by looking online at companies like Jet2holidays to find exactly what you want.

For instant access to fun family holidays in Tenerife start your online search today. By searching for top hotels like the Noelia Sur, Tenerife will soon open your eyes up to what it has to offer in terms of it being the perfect family summer getaway.

The European Union is finally stepping in where cajoling, crying, praying and waiting on hold during working hours listening to a loop of instrumental interpretations of Neil Diamond has so far failed. The commission has introduced a clarified bill of air travellers’ rights, updated for the era of volcanic clouds and discount airlines and post-Diamond telephony.

On the face of it the new rules don’t do a lot for travellers that existing rules aren’t already meant to be doing. In fact in some cases the rules, which aren’t expected to become law before 2014, ease the burden on the airlines. For instance carriers will only be responsible for up to three nights accommodation, which should in any case be more than enough time to fix any technical problems (and if they’re not, after three days, I’m walking) and more time is allowed before a flight has to be declared cancelled.

So the bill is really about clarification. Passenger rights are already EU-wide legislation but they lacked a clarity that left passengers unsure of their rights and airlines of their responsibilities. For instance, polls of travellers indicated that airlines are unsure if passengers of delayed flights should be considered cattle or freight and they regularly ignore legitimate requests for compensation. It was also found that in fewer than 50% of cases did airlines fulfill their responsibility to provide accommodation, meals, water or any of the basics necessary to sustain life.

Another survey suggested that between two and five percent of compensation claims were honoured by the airlines. While it’s unlikely that the actual number is anywhere near that high the new guidelines serve to remind the airlines that we’re onto them and just not answering the phones, while effective, isn’t fooling anyone.

Other changes introduced by the proposed legislation appear to be aimed at the smaller indignities suffered by delayed passengers:

• Carriers will have to make up an absurd fiction explaining any delays no later than 30 minutes after the expected departure time.
• The practice of charging to correct misspelled names on tickets will have to be replaced by some other offensively petty surcharge. A shoe tax, possibly, or coin-operated toilet paper dispensers.
• Above all passengers will have to be offered an alternative route, even on a rival carrier, if a flight is going to be delayed for more than 12 hours.

It remains to be seen precisely how airlines will flout these new regulations but industry analysts pretending to not be paid shills for the airlines are already claiming that the implementation costs will only be passed along to the consumer in the form of higher ticket prices. The implication that airlines don’t already charge exactly as much as they can get away with appears to have failed to influence the pending legislation.

Touring Europe can be one of the most exciting and educational holidays to have with your family and with the hundreds of tourist spots available, the only thing you’d lack is time. Going on vacation to Europe is usually equated with spending loads of money but this doesn’t have to be the case. You can easily save money by selecting destinations that are reasonably near each other. An example of such an itinerary would be Berlin, Prague and Amsterdam though the places you visit would greatly depend on the number of days you plan to stay at each location.

The first way you can save on Europe holidays is to book in advance. Many packages offer trips to these three locations and plane tickets from Prague to Amsterdam for example are quite affordable ranging from $140 to $170 depending on the date of booking.  Lower prices are usually available for those who make early bookings and discounts are given to these early birds as well. Booking early is a must if you are travelling with your entire family.

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Booking apartments instead of those fancy, expensive hotels during your trip is another great saver. Prague apartments for example are both stylish and comfortable offering occupants’ comforts of daily life like washing machines, coffee makers, juicers and other useful equipment. Opting for apartments such as these will allow you to cook for your family and avoid spending too much on eating out. Amsterdam apartments also have the same benefits and in addition are located close to key tourist destinations like Rembrandt square.

Carefully selecting the season you travel can also help you stretch your budget during an international vacation to Europe. Since winter clothing will mean more baggage and in turn higher cost, plan to visit these places during spring or summer when less clothing is required. Be on the lookout for periods where travel to these destinations is at its peak.

Going to cruises will also save a lot of money since these vacation deals are usually inclusive of food, accommodation and leisure at the same time. These make them a very cost effective option for your holiday plans.

Luxury Cruises (Creative Commons)

Travelling using local transportation will also prove useful to help you save money on travel. If you are a group, compare prices the car rentals with local transportation and see which would be a better deal considering the size of your group.

One of the most visited European metropolises, London is an eclectic blend of cutting edge buildings and historical landmarks with a touch of style. Whether you’re an arts enthusiast, a party animal, a socialite or a history lover, London offers plenty of opportunities. Being a cultural hub with a modernist twist, this impressive capital covers the preferences of all kind of travelers. From the Westminster Abbey to the Big Ben, London is absolutely filled with astonishing landmarks. The English breakfast can also be found among London’s attractions. If you don’t believe me, ask the millions of tourists coming to London every year: is the English breakfast one of the reasons for which they choose to visit this amazing city? Indeed, it is!

However, as any other city on the face of the Earth, London contains good places to go to, and less recommended ones. If you don’t spend too much time in London, you have to make sure that you don’t just try your luck when it comes to having breakfast. So here are a few opportunities to choose from.

One of the most renowned restaurants in London is the Breakfast Club. As the name says, this spectacular venue only specializes in breakfasts. At the Breakfast Club, one can choose from a wide variety of breakfast menus, including Benedict eggs, the well known full English breakfast and pancakes. With the four branches located in Hoxton, Spitalfields, Soho and Angel, this restaurant is definitely a can’t-go-wrong choice for breakfast.

A very typical English restaurant, the Dean Street Townhouse is a posh venue, located in Soho. With an extensive menu catering for both the meat lovers and the vegetarians, this lively restaurant offers everything from the traditional full English breakfast, which, by the way, it is absolutely delicious, to the tasty English porridge.

Wolseley and Delauney are two flamboyant restaurants owned by the same person. The similarities between this two venues can be easily sensed, especially when it comes to the delicious dishes that they serve. One can tell that both venues serve the same creative, daring recipes, with a touch of uniqueness. The staff, besides from being elegantly dressed it is also very kind and helpful. Even though the menu is not that diverse, these restaurants offer some mouth-watering specialties that can only be found here.

With an impressive range of dishes, featuring tasty and healthy breakfasts, incredibly good coffee and a variety of delicious smoothies, the Kensington Square Kitchen successfully keeps the balance between flavorsome and healthy.

Spain is a brilliant destination to choose if you fancy a relaxing break. Of course, it’s a pretty big place, so your first question is bound to be ‘where should I go?’. To help you decide, I’ve put together a brief list of some of my favourite spots to unwind in the country.

Obviously, different people find different things relaxing, so I’ve tried to include a reasonably varied mix of options. In general, though, I’ve gone with quieter destinations, as opposed to well-known party capitals!

You want: variety

If you’re like me and enjoy having a good few options when it comes to ways to relax, you should definitely consider booking a trip to Majorca. This gorgeous island combines great weather with stunning beaches, lots of sports opportunities and a cosmopolitan capital known for its great nightlife. So, it’s easy to relax no matter what you’re in the mood for!

Among the highlights are:

• Going hiking in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountain range: This incredible place, which is home to peaks over 1,400 m high, is a fantastic place to get back to nature and enjoy the great outdoors.
• Giving water sports a try: A lot of the beaches are really well equipped here, like Cala Santanyi, which is brilliant for windsurfing.
• Staying in a luxurious hotel: Some of the top resorts include Hotel Cala San Vincenc in Cala San Vincente and the Hotel La Residencia in Deya.

You want: a quiet break

If all you want is a quiet break, Almeria in Andalusia is a great destination to choose. OK, this was once one of the most important ports in the Caliphate of Cordoba, so it certainly has a history of being busy, but these days it’s more relaxed, with a gorgeous coastline covered in quiet beaches, a beautiful landscape and utterly amazing food.

Among the things to do while you’re here are:

• Get stuck into the local food: Grapes are one of the major crops here, so go for dishes with these in. The breca a la uva, which is Pandora fish with grapes, is especially good.
• Take a relaxing stroll in Nicolas Salmeron Park, which runs along the seashore.

You want: to get back to nature

While it’s possible to explore wonderful landscapes in both the above destinations, I think La Palma is one of the best spots in Spain for really immersing yourself in gorgeous surroundings. One of the Canary Islands, La Palma is often referred to as the isla bonita – which means the beautiful isle.

As well as being the greenest of all the Canaries, this pretty island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which probably gives you a good idea of just how amazing the local landscape is.

If you want to explore it at its best, you should definitely go to Caldera de Taburiente National Park, which is one of the most impressive places on the island’s interior. In fact, here you can see the stunning Caldera de Taburiente, which is one of the largest in the whole world – and that manages to look even bigger thanks to the fact that it’s surrounded by mountains.

The local beaches, meanwhile, have to be seen to be believed. I suggest going to Los Cancajos Beach in Brena Baja, since this stretch of sand is known for its crystal-clear water and picturesque rocky beds.

With what appears to be a school holiday every other week, it can be really difficult to keep up with the holiday planning, and you may find yourself running out of ideas before long. Kids definitely need stimulating, but get bored very easily so choosing something new and refreshing for the family can be hell unless you opt to travel further away each time.

Another thing to consider is that many activities don’t necessarily suite the whole family, so it can be quite a challenge in itself getting the right balance of fun, education, entertainment and of course relaxation for mum and dad. The difficulty in many cases is that travelling anywhere with the kids can be so hectic and stressful that it takes the fun out of the trip.

What you need is a solution to give you the break you need but allow the kids to have a fun-filled, action-packed holiday doing all the activities they love, without the hassle of you organising it all!

Holiday camps may just be the perfect solution for the little ones. With a huge variety of activities to choose from, there is a package to suite even the fussiest of mites. Whether they prefer a week of dancing and singing or perhaps a multi-activity of archery, football, horse-riding and more, the kids camps are great for entertainment, education and of course socialising, having fun and meeting new friends! The chances are they won’t want to come home.

Activities for the kids are really important in developing many much needed skills. Children can benefit enormously from taking part in fun activities, and in many cases they just see it as having fun when in fact they are constantly learning as well as exercising. Obviously there are great things for the kids to do wherever you go, but it can be time consuming finding all the information you need and planning the itinerary for your trip.

Places such as Camp Beaumont are a great place to start looking at package camp holidays for the kids. Day trips are also available, which may be a good idea to ease them into being away from home, before a residential week away. And everything is included in the trips, including dedicated and trusted staff, pastoral care, and even pick up points so you don’t even have to put up with the excitement in the car all the way to camp!

Imagine visiting a hotel made entirely of Ice! The ICEHOTEL is truly a magnificent example of a fusion between art and nature, creating an unusual yet breath-taking form of architecture. Each room is carefully sculpted using snow and ice, and each one unique to the next. The only thing protecting you from the ice when you sleep is a Reindeer skin, draped over the bed of ice.

Just like any other hotel, you will be greeted by receptionists in the foyer, and can sit at the Ice Bar and have a drink if you like. Many people flock to the ICEHOTEL to examine the beautiful sculptures or even get married in the Ice Chapel, giving meaning to a truly white wedding!

Whilst staying at the ICEHOTEL, some of the most popular activities to do nearby include husky sledging, which you can also organise for your airport transfer. You could have fun on a snowmobile, go reindeer sledging, or how about a moose safari on horseback for something with a difference?

And if you have had enough skiing in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the ICEHOTEL, then why not settle down and enjoy the unique craft of ice sculpting at the hotel. Guided by an expert, you will be shown how to create your own masterpiece out of ice. And the best sculptures will be showcased in the restaurant that evening! Be warned though, it can be very addictive and fun!

But what better way to end your evening than with witnessing the Great Northern Lights. The ICEHOTEL offer trips to the Abisko Sky Station where it is thought you can get a much better view of the aurora borealis. And you can also choose to visit the Northern Lights via a husky safari, snowmobile or even perhaps on horseback!

And if you would really like to experience the sami culture of this Swedish Lapland, the ICEHOTEL offer wonderful excursions to the sami camp in Jukkasjavi, where you can learn the skills of reindeer sledging as well as enjoying a traditional meal in a lavvu, before returning to your room at the ICEHOTEL.

The entire experience of the ICEHOTEL and what it has to offer it truly breathtaking, and with so much to choose from, you are sure to find something suited to you. From exhilarating husky or reindeer sledging to creating your very own ice masterpiece or perhaps relaxing with an evening meal while witnessing the incredible Northern Lights, the ICEHOTEL offers an experience of a lifetime.

Saint Tropez, a town in French Riviera, was considered a sleepy place until it was made famous by Brigitte Bardot. Very soon it became a hot destination for the young and the rich. The place suffered major damages during the second world war but much of it survived the bombings and it still retains the popularity and glamour. St Tropez for many years had a reputation of being a kinky town which attracted the wilder sections of the crowd. But this is not entirely true. The place has a reputation of being a wonderful holiday destination for the families and with a wide range of luxury St Tropez villas to choose from, there’s no reason you and family can’t have a wonderful time here.

Things to See

1) St Tropez Beach – The Saint Tropez beach is one of the famous beaches in the world. The 5 km long white sandy beaches look beautiful in the backdrop of glittering blue waters. The sea is quite shallow and there is a sand bar which makes it ideal for children to swim and play. The beach boasts of good facilities like bars, restaurants, showers and toilets. Coastguards are deployed to maintain safety and security of the beach. There are also private beach clubs along the beach but entry of the children is severely restricted.

2) House of Butterflies – The house of butterflies was established in 1993 and it houses more than 4,000 species of butterfly. There are lots of rare species and each one is kept in beautifully re-created natural habitats. The place is very popular among children and this is usually the first stop for families traveling with kids.

3) The Citadelle St Tropez – The Citadelle looks over the sea as it is located above the town. It has a museum but will not find takers among the young children. The view from the citadelle is absolutely stunning and rekindles memories of the past. The walk to the citadelle is very steep and you should allot a full day for this tour. There is a beautiful ground where you can have a small picnic or the children may run around and burn their energy.

4) Luna Park near St Tropez – The Luna Park is a big and noisy fun park which the kids will simply love it. There are roller coasters, water slides, horse rides, fast food and even crazy golf. You can spend loads of fun-filled hours here with your kids. There is a huge supermarket next door which has lots of shops and restaurants but you may need a taxi to reach there.

Things to Do

Ideally you would love to spend countless hours on the beach for relaxation. But to enjoy the place thoroughly it is suggested that you explore the town on your own by taking a stroll. You can walk through the narrow alleys and find the quaint little homes and a number of historical structures. There are a few cafes around where you can sip a beverage to rejuvenate yourself. If you are a connoisseur of art then walk to the Musee de l’Annonciade which houses an interesting collection of art. It has works by Bonnard, Dufy and Derain et al. The windows of the museum afford excellent views of the harbor and the town.

If you love traveling and are doing a circuit in Europe and particularly a stopover in Portugal then perhaps you might consider 5 things to see and do in Faro. With a long standing history from as far as the thirteenth century, this city is considered as a very busy tourist attraction with many century old buildings some of which have marks of mediaeval disasters like earthquakes. Therefore, apart from the lovely climate during certain times of the year you have lots to look out for when you set foot in Faro. For an easy and convenient way to get around, consider Car Hire Faro Airport.

The Igreja de Sao Francisco

What catches your attention are the monumental buildings like the igreja de sao Francisco a magnificent church building that is a few centuries old and dedicated to the saint Francis of Assisi. The most captivating feature of this building is the strikingly beautiful baroque style used to construct this building. Also you cannot help but notice the tiles laid out artistically as a portrait of saint Francis of Assisi, which is one of the main tourist attractions and a must see when you visit this site.

Sao Bras de Alportal

If viewing sceneries are your style of recreation then you can get it at Sao Bras de Alportal where you get a very different environment away from the city and buildings. Here you have an expanse of nature with figs and almond plants adorning the scenery. Here you will have a personal taste of locally produced fig and almond products adding to that unforgettable experience that you will encounter while you are walking around. This adventure will leave you with that soft and crunchy taste of the almonds, and the sweet tasting figs.

The Old Town 

If you have something for the Moorish culture you will find it from the way the buildings have been designed. As you walk through the old town you will notice artifacts like handicraft rich in this culture to take away as souvenirs. The town itself has a very high tourist turnout from all walks of life. Tucked away in the streets are cafes that will offer you snacks and drinks as you carry on with your expedition.

The Arco da Vila

Perhaps on your way to the old town you notice the arco da vila a monumental gate having a bell tower and constructed with the most archaic designs that has stood strong for that long. The gateway also has a statue of saint Thomas Aquinas who was considered the city patron.

The Capela d’ Ossos

This is a site not for you if you are faint hearted. A weird piece of work you will notice having its walls plastered with bones and skulls of the dead. The chapel of bones was constructed in the sixteenth century by a monk who thought to carry on the Counter Reformation spirit at that time. The skulls and bones were meant to strengthen this concept of life being a transitory phase.

There may be lots of other places to visit and things to see but these are five of our favourites. For the deals in economy car hire don’t forget to book online before you travel.