by ·Comments Off on The Cotswolds for Easter

As the weather becomes brighter and warmer and the days longer, for many of us, it’s time to think of short breaks or weekends away in the countryside.  Easter is an ideal time to visit the beautiful Cotswolds.  The Cotswolds extend over an area of central southern England, mainly covering the  counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

With rolling hills, beautiful beech woods, small farms nestled in valleys and attractive villages and small towns characterised with pretty stone-built cottages and impressive churches, it is no wonder that the Cotswolds have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1966.

For those who love the outdoors, there is a large choice of camping and caravan sites and there are plenty of designated walks and footpaths. If you like exploring small, quaint villages, then wander across the low, stone bridges straddling the River Windrush in Bourton-on-the Water and browse amongst the small gift shops or visit the attractive Sudeley Castle and gardens situated just outside Winchcombe.

If camping and caravanning is not for you, then there are plenty of cottages to hire for a week or a weekend as well as a large selection of B&Bs and small hotels.

by ·Comments Off on Homestays in India

Independent travellers are often looking for different things from a holiday from other holidaymakers.  Often keen to venture onto public transport, mooch around markets selling exotic food and happy to explore places well off the beaten track, independent travellers tend to avoid staying in the big hotel chains.  If you are travelling in India and you like to do things your way and not as part of a package or an organised trip, then consider staying in a homestay.

Homestays are small guest houses, often with the owner and his family living on the premises as well.  Rooms tend to be clean and simply furnished and they often include a shower room and toilet. Nowadays, you will find that most rooms in a homestay will often have a wall mounted TV too  and, as English is a working language in India, you may find several channels broadcasting in English.  One of the nicest things about a homestay is that there is usually a communal area for guests to congregate in which gives guests the opportunity to meet other travellers from all over the world. Unless you are travelling in a very remote part of India, you should find good mobile phone reception and most homestays also offer free wi-fi to all guests.  As a rough guide, a night in a homestay costs from between about £5 a night per room to about £12.50 in a more luxurious place.

by ·Comments Off on In search of Winter sun

With average daytime temperatures of over 20 degrees Celsius all year round, the Canary Islands make an ideal Winter holiday destination for those in desperate need of sunshine during northern Europe’s dreary winters.  Located closer to the north west coast of Africa than to the Spanish mainland, the seven islands of the Canaries are popular with tourists from January to December.  Approximately 5 million tourists visit the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, every year.

There’s plenty to do in Tenerife for everyone.  The Teide National Park containing Spain’s highest peak, Mount Teide, which rises to a height of 12,198′, is highly recommended.  Ride on the cable car to the top of the volcano and admire the views and the stunning volcanic landscape below.  Take the family to the Siam Water Park and have fun amongst the rapids and the water slides.  Alternatively, you could take a boat ride out onto the ocean for whale and dolphin watching. Swim in one of the many rock pools of the town of Garachico, visit the picturesque mountain village of Masca or explore the old buildings and browse amongst the shops and tapas bars of La Laguna.

There’s so much to do that you are bound to want to return the following year, especially if Winter at home turns out to be cold, grey and wet.

by ·Comments Off on Holidaying in the Frozen North

Just a month before Christmas and Britain can be drizzly, dreary and dull.  Not to mention battling the crowds of shoppers hoping to bag a bargain, queuing for a precious parking spot, getting tied up in sticky tape and string, making endless batches of mince pies and sausage rolls….

So, a well-earned break, away from it all, might seem very attractive. How about flying to either Stockholm or Helsinki and then catching a connecting flight up to the frozen wastes of Lapland within the confines of the Arctic Circle?

It may be cold with temperatures below freezing and snow piled all around but the air is fresh and the light is bright under cloudless, chilly blue skies.  Stay in a romantic log cabin and relax in the evenings in front of a roaring log fire or book a night or two into an ice hotel for a totally unique experience.  For those who are full of energy and prefer activity holidays to rest and relaxation, then  hire skis and try cross country skiing, have a go at dog sledding or simply hike amongst the snow covered hills and mountains, stopping for a hot chocolate and a pastry in a picturesque village cafe.

If you are travelling with young children, then you must look into a trip to Santa’s grotto and visit his reindeer on a reindeer farm! Tourists to Lapland who visit during December to March may also be lucky enough to experience the beauty of the Northern Lights.

by ·Comments Off on A recommended day out to Warwick Castle

October half-term may only be a week, but for some parents it can feel like a very long week if the weather is cold and wet and the children are bored and fractious.

For a special treat, why not visit the very imposing Warwick Castle in Warwickshire.  During half-term week, the Castle has organised special activities and spooky events for Hallowe’en and is open until 9pm at night.

For those who can’t stay that late, there is still plenty to see and do at the castle.  For the energetic, there are 500 steps to climb if you want to explore the towers and walk along the ramparts.  Have your children peering through the arrow slits and imagine firing arrows onto an enemy below.  Look across to the the huge trebuchet on the other side of the river and admire the views over the city of Warwick and the surrounding countryside.

There are interesting rooms to discover where children can learn about life in the castle and its history.  Feel how heavy the chain mail is to wear and giggle at the medieval toilet which overhangs the dry moat.  Imagine wearing heavy armour or sleeping in a four poster bed.

Included in the admission price is the Bowman Show where children can admire the skill and accuracy of using a bow and arrow. You can also take in the Birds of Prey Display and admire and wonder at the eagles and vultures which are allowed to fly majestically around the castle ramparts whilst you and your children enjoy a picnic on the grass nearby.