by ·Comments Off on Holiday Accommodation: Advantages of hiring a cottage

If you are considering going away for a few days with a large group of people, whether it is family, friends or 2 or 3 families together, then the ideal holiday accommodation may be a country cottage or house by the sea. There are plenty of companies which offer holiday accommodation from cosy one-bedroomed apartments for couples to rambling country houses which can sleep 12 or more.

A large country property can provide the perfect accommodation for large groups holidaying together and is usually much more preferable to booking a number of rooms in a hotel. Many rental properties are very well-equipped with full kitchen facilities, use of a garden, often with a patio area complete with barbecue, bedrooms to sleep everyone comfortably and plenty of living space for guests to watch TV, play games, entertain the children or simply to rest and relax in. If the property is detached, then you don’t need to worry so much about keeping the noise down and disturbing the neighbours. Many rental properties may also allow one or two dogs. A lot of places are happy for guests to really make themselves at home and the best places to rent may even have the use of bicycles in the garage, or have a stock of wood for an open fire or supply a selection of board games or allow guests to use the outdoor jacuzzi or hot tub.

by ·Comments Off on Recommended short city breaks: Madrid

Accessible from various UK based airports, with national air carriers and the budget airlines, Madrid is a 2 and a quarter hour flight away from London and is the perfect location for a short break.

The city is quite compact with good bus and underground networks. However, if you like walking, you will find a lot of the sights within close proximity to one another.

The Royal Palace is well worth a visit with its beautiful ornate, state rooms and painted ceilings. After a morning visit to the Palace, you can wander along to the busy undercover Mercado de San Miguel and make the most of sampling fresh seafood, crusty breads, olives and delicious pastries for lunch. Madrid’s main square, the vast Plaza Mayor is a few streets away from the the food market. You can walk around the large square, looking in the shops and then enjoy afternoon coffee at one of the many cafes.

If the weather is nice, then the Botanical Gardens and the nearby Retiro Park are lovely places for rest and relaxation. You can hire a boat on the lake or take a wander along the paths to the lovely Crystal Palace situated in the park. Not too far away, is the world famous Prado Museum, which has one of the best collections of European art.

For football lovers, Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium is a metro ride from Central Madrid. When you have have had enough of sightseeing, then it is time to make the most of the many cafes, restaurants and tapas bars and sample some Spanish cuisine and enjoy a glass or two of Spanish wine.

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.