London: a city with history like no other
It is said by some that the name of London derives from Lludd’s Town based on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regnum Britanniae, wherein he made allusion to a legendary King named Lludd who ruled in the prehistoric past. While it sounds about right, modern scholarship and archaeology has ruled out the possibility that any settlement existed at the site of present day London before the Romans built a military depot there shortly after they invaded Britain in 43 A.D.
While the provenience of the name may be a mystery, it is clear that London is a city with a history like no other, and since the Romans built the town it has grown into the undisputed economic and political nexus of Britain and one of the most important financial and cultural centres in the world. London is the world’s most visited city, with over 27 million visits per year between international and domestic travellers. A good many of those travellers looking for hotels in London are attracted by the city’s unique and rich history.
London itself is a giant museum for the history buff. To be sure, London is filled with museums, over 240 of them at last count, from the quintessential British Museum in Bloomsbury to the Churchill War Room at Whitehall to Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition in Southwark. But the true history buff can literally walk through the centuries in a stroll about London
One can view sections of the Roman wall that once surrounded the old city that were built in the 2nd century, or see the Tower of London that dates to 1066, the Temple on Fleet Street built in 1185, The Jewel Tower at Westminster Palace built in 1365 to house Edward III’s treasures, St. James Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square and a hundred other monuments and places that mark the centuries of London’s life.
Five top tips for a weekend in Rome
As one of the oldest cities in Europe, Rome is a city packed with unforgettable adventures waiting to happen – making it the perfect choice for a weekend break.
If you’re looking to break free from your usual weekend routine then there’s no better choice than Rome with its buzzing nightlife, historical sites and stunning array of shops and boutiques. Here we highlight five top tips that are sure to guarantee your weekend away is the authentic Italian experience – no matter what your budget.
If you’re looking for a romantic weekend away for two then there’s no better place to stay than Trastevere. With its narrow cobbled streets and rustic charm the area any couple’s romantic dream, packed with beautiful historical buildings, quaint cafes and classy bars. Spend your time eating, drinking and generally soaking up the authentic charm of the area.
For those who like to take a piece of their holiday home with them then a visit to one of the many markets to pick up a souvenir is essential. Take a daytime trip to via Guilia or via Babuino to browse beautiful Italian antiques. For those on a tighter budget, head to one of the many flea markets, such as the via Sannio, where you can rummage through piles of vintage clothing and other market treasures. Love by locals and tourists alike, it’s a buzzing slice of Italian life.
Rome is a city for food lovers. Whether its pizza or pasta, Italians take their food seriously and if you want to eat like a local be sure to head for pizza in the Monteverde area of the city. Whether you want a quick street eat or a 5-star restaurant meal, you’ll be spoilt for choice here.
No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the stunning Trevi Fountain. Found in a bustling yet small piazza, local legend has it that throwing in a coin and making a wish can make dreams come true. At 26m tall and 20m wide, it’s the large Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous in the world, making it an awe-inspiring sight regardless of its wish-granting abilities.
If shopping is your thing then Rome certainly doesn’t disappoint. Many of best independent shops and boutiques are huddled together in the Pantheon & Navona area of the city – offering a huge choice of chic boutiques, high fashion stores and smaller bohemian retailers to satisfy all your shopping needs. If you plan on doing a lot of spending it might be an idea to pay on card, rather than carrying cash around everywhere. Go online to find the best credit cards available to you, which could even get you some benefits on your spending.
Sail from the coast of Turkey
Family adventure trips – sail from the coast of Turkey
A sailing trip along the Turquoise Coast, is a family adventure different from what we’ve known, and exceeds all expectations of family trip.
Our boat can be a traditional Turkish wooden yacht for many is the most beautiful on the high seas with his helmet on mahogany and blue poles. Alternatively you can rent a yacht for six cabins a family holiday. It may be ideal to take a vacation for 10 days from the rent it will be our home, to do nothing better than going on a luxury yacht sailing in a relaxed and full of adventure to see Turkey.
Travel by boat:
Our yacht can travel in a robbery in small harbors, lagoons and hidden coves, this due to the size of the vessel and its draft. Alternatively you can make a picnic and enjoy the turquoise sea in a secluded spot for swimming, kayaking, windsurfing and fishing. The combination of our adventure we can do with hiking, visits to ancient ruins and water activities, and then have time to rest lazily on the deck of the yacht to create an intimate and familiar rhythm of adults, elderly and children alike.
The three best budget European destinations
Traveling in Europe can be financially draining, however there are still destinations that are more affordable, and even more enjoyable, than your more popular tourist areas. Here is a list of affordable European destinations.
1. Tenerife, Canary Islands
Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, and is a popular tourist destination, thanks to its exotic appeal. There are many pristine habitats on the island, from lush forests to desert plains, all filled with varied and exotic flora and fauna. There is also a mountain range, and some volcanoes. Cheap holidays to Tenerife are available thanks to the poor economic standing of this small nation. Once a poor banana growing country, thanks to the arrival of the airline industry, Tenerife has enjoyed a boom in the tourist industry. Spanish is the native language, however most locals can speak English and German to an understandable degree.
2. Krakow, Poland
Poland is one of the best kept secrets of Europe – in the European Union, but outside of the Eurozone, foreigners enjoy very advantageous currency exchanges. Poland has many beautiful and bustling cities, but Krakow, located in the south of the country, is perhaps the most complete package. Here, you can enjoy the old town center’s character and charm, taste the hearty and unique Polish cuisine of the region, and visit some of the many historical sites. Wawel Castle is striking in its size and stature, and was home to Poland’s royalty for many centuries. A short ride from Krakow is Wieliczka, the longest and largest continuously operating salt mine in the world. You can descend 300 meters into the mine for an unforgettable tour. Two hours from Krakow is Auschwitz, one of the most infamous concentration camps from World War II. Poland is a very affordable country, but you better visit soon, because once the Euro arrives, prices will escalate three-fold.
3. Bulgaria
This is Europe’s oldest state, and has some of the most fascinating cultural history to back it. Bulgaria has beautiful mountains and Black Sea beaches that have recently become home to a booming tourist infrastructure. Very affordable with respect to currency exchange rates, Bulgaria should be a place that any avid traveler visits.
Sofia, the capital, is a blend of trendy shops, innovative restaurants and cafes, and lively entertainment. Beyond the city walls, the country side of Bulgaria offers a more traditional experience, where traditional farming and craft-making locals still thrive.
How to buy a great holiday on a budget
The holidays are a wonderful time of year for everybody and can be a nice way to spend time with your family. Of course, if you’d like to have an even more exciting time, then taking a break at the beginning of the new year, in the middle of a long, grey winter is a great thing to do. What most people struggle with is dealing with the expenses involved, as it is quite expensive to travel during the beginning of the year. Below, I outline several ways for you to spend your on a budget to have a wonderful cheap holidays trip.
Book early
When you book early, you can save yourself from lots of expenses, not to mention save money from those high priced services when flying. Whether you plan on flying to Walt Disney World or staying at a beautiful hotel in Sweden, you need to buy your vacation and book your flights as soon as possible. Usually several months in advance should be good enough, but it all depends on how many people visit that place during that time.
Book your own trip
Nothing’s wrong with asking a travel agent to create that vacation of yours, but if you want to save money, you can book everything all on your own without any use of somebody’s help. Booking your own trip is tough, but that is why you should really consider booking your own trip using your own set of resources.
Stay in a cheap hotel
Hotels can play a big part to your trip on whether or not you will save money. The truth is that it is a bit expensive to find a good hotel, but there are many available which can provide for you good service and a good room. So, you should remember to always look for this aspect when looking for a hotel.
Having a cheap holiday is much easier to create than you think as long as you have the right knowledge. No matter where you go, an investment will always be made. Luckily, you can save money if ever you use the above tips and suggestions.
Requirements and Risks for Diving
Diving is an activity really lovely, impressive. Visit colorful and amazing sea is exciting for anyone. However, if you plan to visit a sea floor on your next vacation, it is important to instruct well. In the next article we will tell you about the requirements needed for the diving and the risks of this activity.
Requirements for diving
The requirements can be of different types. There are physical and legal requirements. The latter, of course, will depend on the site in which we want to dive .
Physical requirements. The essentials are able to swim well and not suffer any serious health problem (which can affect the heart, lungs or ears). These requirements will be ordered by a medical certificate for the site carried out by the diving course .
Legal requirements. These requirements depend on the legislature of each place. In Spain , for example, one of the countries with the sea ‘s most incredible of all, there are rules that can only be available to dive those who have reached 14 years of age, among other regulations.
The risks of diving
The following are some of the risks that we must be careful when diving into the deep sea diving :
Tympanic lesions in the ears. This is due to pressure differences to descend and ascend. To do this, we must know how to compensate the air.
Scandinavian Holidays for Active People
For many people, the idea of a perfect holiday doesn’t involve a week spent shopping in malls, or even a few days doing nothing stretched out on a beach. For these people, a true getaway involves activity holidays, much like the ones you can enjoy in Sweden. From cycling to hiking or even sailing, Sweden is the ideal location to keep active and have fun during your holidays. This guide will introduce you to the many activity holidays you can enjoy in this incredible Scandinavian country:
Cycling in Sweden:Cycling is a popular pastime in Sweden, both for pleasure and as a means of transportation. As a result, there are thousands of miles of bike paths throughout the country. Whether you want to cycle through a city to sightsee or explore nature free from civilization, there are bike paths to accommodate you. Gotland, an island off the coast of Sweden, is ideal for cycling holidays as it is flat and scenic. Or, cycle along the popular Göta Canal, which stretched for over 190 kilometers in length.
Sailing in Sweden: During the summer months, visitors flock to Sweden to enjoy sailing along the extensive coastlines that Sweden has to offer. Constant winds mean that sailing can be quite a challenge, and proves to be an exciting undertaking. For a truly unique holiday, hire a sailboat and explore the Stockholm Archipelago, which is made up of over 2,000 islands off the coast. Many are home to small inns or restaurants, and are an ideal place to spend your holiday.
Hiking in Sweden: There are over 400 trails suitable for hiking or trekking throughout Sweden, whether you want to spend a few hours out in nature or you want to undertake a serious hiking challenge. Some of the best trails are the 450 kilometer long King’s Trail, as well as the many paths on the island of Gotland.
Activities in Lapland: Some of the most exciting and unique activity holidays can be enjoyed in Sweden’s Lapland. Home to the Sarek National Park as well as the traditional Sami people, a holiday spent here might include reindeer or dog sledding, ice fishing, glacier hiking or cross country skiing. A notable attraction are the Northern Lights, perhaps one of the most incredible sights imaginable.
From hiking to ice fishing and everything in between, Sweden truly is the perfect place to explore on your adventure holidays!