Category Archives: Europe

Europe

Top places to visit in Europe

Chris Columbus 10th December 2018

Europe is filled with a variety of cultures and places to explore. If you’re looking to plan a full Europe trip, we recommend visiting the following countries below.

Germany

Neuschwanstein in the Bavarian Alps is the dreamer’s wonderland. A fairy-tale castle for all Cinderellas is here, and the creative vacationer will not be disappointed. The castle is of medieval architecture, and the landscape is something most visitors have not experienced before. If the goal of a vacation is to get away from it all, then this may be the ultimate place for some. Walking into fairy-land, even for a few hours, may be all that is needed to escape any back home reality of work and routine. Children especially enjoy such a wonderland.

United Kingdom

If you’re looking for a short relaxing break, Lincolnshire is the best place for you. UK’s second largest county has a myriad of places to visit and exciting attractions. It also has a range of award-winning guest houses and B&Bs in Lincoln that you can readily book online. From the iconic Lincoln cathedral to the stunning Skegness coastline; discover all that this destination has to offer.

Greece

The Parthenon in Greece is a second European destination that is other-worldly. This is a fifth-century BC marble temple built to the goddess Athena. The temple was damaged at the end of the seventeenth century AD. Today this monument stands in an altered condition, but there are still beautiful architectural features that may be alluring to the history-buff visitor.

However, if you want the type of Greek holiday where you can escape to paradise and relax in a private luxury hotel or villa, then why not consider the beautiful island of Zakynthos. Porto Zante has a range of exclusive accommodation, including 5 star and spa hotels on Zakynthos.

France

If you love the picturesque views of the mountains, we highly recommend the French Alps. This place caters for accommodation for families, couples and backpackers and full of activities to do. One of the most popular to choose from is skiing, and there are many high quality catered ski chalets to choose from. So whether you’re there to relax in the beautiful, peaceful area or would love to ski and snowboard, then this is one of the top places to choose from.

There may be logistical details that need to be determined, such as when to arrive to avoid long lines. Planning for the transportation to and from such a far away destination may be at the top of any list of critical to do’s. Arriving at the castle may be achieved by walking a thirty-minute well-marked trail. Arrival to the medieval castle can, also, be gained by taking a site bus.

Turkey

Turkey is another excellent place to visit, which encompasses Southeastern Europe and Western Asia – it is the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world. Boasting 13 UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Archeological sites of Troy, Historic Areas of Istanbul and Mount Nemrut amongst others.

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Skiing Holidays in Morzine

Chris Columbus 24th October 2018

Morzine is an Alpine village situated between Lake Geneva and the Mont Blanc Massif mountain range. Close to the border between France and Switzerland, Morzine has maintained a traditional character with picturesque slate covered roofs and wooden balconies on its chalet style buildings. Although a popular skiing destination, the village charm, beautiful surroundings and ample outdoor activities make it an excellent option all year round for adults and children. An hour’s drive from Geneva airport, Morzine is part of the ski area Portes du Soleil, a 650km snowy playground which crosses from France to Switzerland. With panoramic mountain views, this traditional market town originally supported itself through agriculture and later mining, before developing its touristic appeal and becoming the European hotspot of today.

Accommodation in Morzine

Morzine offers a variety of accommodation options such as hotels, apartments and chalets in the town itself as well as further afield. Luxury catered and self catered chalets are a popular option for an indulgent getaway. Small, high-end tour-operators offer chalets suitable for families or larger groups, with decadent features such as panoramic views, modern entertainment centres and and private hot tubs. Self-catered chalets include fully-equipped kitchens and top of the line appliances with additional options available at an extra cost. Partially or fully catered chalets allow guests to make their stay even more luxurious with features such as all-inclusive drinks, professional private chefs and on-site baristas. Morzine provides free shuttle buses to the centre and ski-lifts, however out of town accommodation may provide its own shuttle or private driver services. Read More

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Where to Stay on the South Downs Way

Chris Columbus 13th June 2018

The UK has a number of spectacular long-distance footpaths and bridleways, spanning the length and breadth of the country. With so much amazing scenery, bucolic countryside and well-maintained footpath to explore, it’s no wonder more and more people are venturing out on walking holidays.

Whether you’re looking for a chilled out, B&Bs and light hiking option, or more of a camping and long distance trekking vibe, the South Downs Way can cater for all that and more. With so many great campsites, hotels, B&B’s and public transport links, there’s no reason to not enjoy a fantastic walking holiday.

The South Downs Way

South Downs Discovery

Running one hundred miles from Winchester to Eastbourne, the South Downs way is one of the most spectacular long-distance national trails in the UK. Consisting of linked paths that have been walked for over 8,000 years, with plenty of interesting sights to attest to its long history (including the beacon that spotted the Spanish Armada in Tudor times, The Long Man of Wilmington, the medieval village of Lomer and an ancient battlefield).

As well as all that history comes beautiful landscapes and scenery, and plenty of pubs to keep you fed between hikes. Walking the South Downs Way can be a great achievement, whilst also making for a fun holiday!

Hotels and B&Bs

The South Downs Way has plenty to offer in the way of hotels and B&Bs. This can be the perfect option if you’re looking for a walking holiday, but aren’t feeling like roughing it! If you want to combine a little bit of luxury and relaxation with your hiking, and want to enjoy a lengthy shower at the end of a long day of walking and pub lunches. Read More

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Ideal Destinations for Travelling On A Tight Budget

Chris Columbus 17th February 2017

There are expensive options and cheap options almost everywhere, but sometimes knowing a few simple tricks can allow you to visit and enjoy places around the world that you never dreamed were within your budget.

Here are some of the best destinations to consider visiting if one of your main priorities is keeping the cost of the trip to a minimum.

Portugal

A European gem that isn’t talked about much, Portugal has a huge amount to offer the budget tourist. It has a fascinating and unique history, plus very friendly locals. The capital of Lisbon is quieter than most similar cities, which gives you a great opportunity to explore its charming streets, eat out every night and travel on the historic trams for hardly any money.

China

As an up-and-coming international tourist destination, many parts of China are starting to cost more than they used to for tourists, but that doesn’t stop it being one of the more affordable Asian destinations. This is especially true for cities deeper into the mainland.

South Korea

Another Asian holiday destination that’s slowly growing in popularity, people are becoming increasingly fascinated by the unique personality of South Korea. Food and drink are extremely affordable and there’s a huge amount of nightlife to enjoy, plus a rich and complex culture to immerse yourself in. Read More

Europe Sweden

Sweden’s Incredible ICEHOTEL

Chris Columbus 2nd December 2016

For those on the hunt for a truly special holiday destination, and with a preference for cooler locations rather than scorching hot beaches, we think we have the perfect option. ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden is the Artic’s most impressive hotel by a mile, given that it’s entirely constructed from ice and snow. First constructed nearly 28 years ago, you can visit it every winter for a completely unique experience, since it has to be reconstructed every year!

ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden Sweden’s largest river, the Torne, is what makes the ICEHOTEL possible. During the winter, the river begins to freeze and huge quantities of natural ice have to be collected. Rather than importing or creating ice artificially, the naturally-formed Arctic ice is the preferred choice by those who work on creating ICEHOTEL every year. Creative artists from all over the world gather annually to produce the hotel in its new frozen form. The artists are chosen through a global selection process where they submit creative new ideas and come up with even higher standards than were set in previous years, despite the fact that their project can only stand for a few short months before eventually melting again. Read More

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Underwater Hotels

Chris Columbus 22nd October 2016

Are you getting bored searching through pages on the likes of Trip Advisor hunting for the most practical hotel to stay in during your holiday? Maybe you’re looking for something a little more exciting and impressive for a change of pace. Something you may not have considered is an underwater hotel… surely there can’t be many of those within your reach? In fact, you may be surprised just how many incredible choices there are. Take a look at a few of our favourite choices and see if you fancy visiting one of these for yourself.

1) Lovers Deep

Join “The Mile Low Club” with a romantic undersea voyage on Lovers Deep, the submarine/hotel hybrid that takes you from the location of your choice on an exciting journey beneath the sea. It may be a little pricey, but in terms of uniqueness there’s no beating this. St. Lucia is the most common starting point for this luxury undersea trip, and the company running it specialises in honeymoon packages.

2) Subsix

Part of the Maldives’ high-end Niyama resort, the Subsix is a decadent and glamorous destination for sophisticated tourists who love a high-end party. Serving fancy cocktails at the impressive and futuristic bar below the Indian Ocean, this place offers one of the most fabulous undersea experiences in the world for its visitors. Read More

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Game of Thrones Inspired Holiday Destinations

Chris Columbus 5th August 2016

If, like millions of others around the world, you are a huge fan of the TV show Game of Thrones, you will probably have wondered how the show’s creators managed to find some of the incredible locations used for the filming. Bringing the story to life as vividly as we see on the screen requires a great deal of thorough searching, but fortunately some incredible destinations were selected. Even better news is that you can actually visit most of them for yourself! Here are our top three picks if you want to take your devotion to the show to the next level of and see some of the spectacular destinations yourself.

1) Mdina, Malta

In the first episodes of GoT, the fictional city of King’s Landing needed to be represented by a real place in order to really capture the vision of the show’s creators. Fortunately, Mdina’s Medieval architecture (complete with a network of hidden underground tunnels) made it the perfect candidate. It’s a fascinating place to see in the real world since it was the original capital of the country.

2) Dubrovnik, Croatia

Replacing Mdina as the main set for King’s Landing in GoT’s second season, the older areas in this Croatian town are ideally suited to the show’s requirements. The historic features of the town have been looked after spectacularly well over the centuries, making it a real standout location in the heart of the Adriatic Riveria. Read More

Europe France

Luxury Catered Ski Chalets in La Plagne

Chris Columbus 19th July 2016

In the popular Savoie region, you will find the breathtaking French ski destination La Plagne. Set in the perfect location for snowy natural ski slopes, the whole area is surrounded by picturesque mountains as far as the eye can see. In fact, the entire valley is known as one of the most spectacular locations in Europe for skiing. The Paradiski area comprises of both La Plagne and Les Arcs, two neighbouring resorts forming a single ideal destination for ski holidays in France.

chalet One of your best options if you’re considering staying here is to opt for luxury catered ski chalets, and La Plagne offers some of the best you’ll find. We’ve managed to locate some real hidden gems that are a little more traditional and different compared to the newer, tourist-focused accommodation you’ll find across most ski resorts. For example, Chalet Genepy is one of a handful of large Catered Ski Chalets which is large enough to accommodate up to 13 people. It’s right next to the ski lift which takes you right up to the ideal location for practising your skills, allowing you to ski all the way back down to your accommodation! This is the kind of thing we would recommend looking for to get the most out of your holiday in the region. Read More

Europe France

France’s Beautiful Island of Corsica

Chris Columbus 25th June 2015

If you’re a beach lover, then Corsica will definitely be one of the ideal places for you to go on vacation. Situated off the Western coast of Italy in Sardinia, this French territory is a brilliant location for both hikers and divers. It has sparkling waters packed full of sea life and an island with hilltop chalets, dense forests, tiny seaside villages, valleys, beaches, bays and mountains. It’s a beautiful Mediterranean hideaway for anyone that’d like a little break from reality and the chance to explore an environment that’s both totally new and stunning.

One of the biggest reasons why people visit Corsica is to take advantage of its amazing beaches. Grab yourself a place on the white sand in the sunlight, and take a swim in the ocean’s cool waters. Corsica is also home to the Fesch Meseum, a fine arts museum made by the uncle of Napoleon I, Cardinal Joseph Fesch, which is inclusive of a huge collection of Italian paintings from the likes of artists such as Bellini and Botticelli. Another great aspect of Corsica is that the city of Calvi is located just to the northwest coast, offering plenty of art galleries, shops, restaurants and cobblestone streets. Read More

Europe United Kingdom

All About The Beautiful London Docklands

Chris Columbus 25th February 2015

London’s Docklands are situated primarily north of the River Thames and are east of the City of London. They cover a large area between Woolwich and Tower Bridge, serving as an active legacy of the British Empire’s trading power. The Second World War caused the docks to go into decline, but the 1980s saw a huge regeneration, turning them into one of the most sought after property locations in London.

At the heart of the Docklands in London is Canary Wharf, and its facilities make it a brilliant hub to start exploring the area from – as well as offering an amazing selection of parks, bars, restaurants and shops. It’s connected to Stratford to the north and Central London to the west by the very efficient Jubilee Underground Line. As well as this, there’s some fast riverboats that boast a scenic and regular connection to the piers within Central London.

You can choose from a variety of well known hotels including the Hilton & Marriott, or opt for one of the luxury serviced apartments available locally.
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