Talinn, Estonia

The capital of Estonia is a beautiful city draped in iconic history and breath taking views. In this city you can spend the day truly immersed in culture; wander through St Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1229, and then enjoy some fascinating history in the Museum of Occupations. After which, the scenic mediaeval town will spoil you with plenty of options to be wined and dined, or simply sit with a refreshing coffee and absorb the atmosphere.

Budget: Luckily for budget tourists, backpackers have never been scared by Eastern Europe, meaning this is a city littered with some fabulous youth hostels. Gone are the days of rickety old dorms, Gidic Backpackers is a small, friendly hostel which offers double rooms from 15 Euro per person.

Luxury: For a bit of medieval luxury why not indulge in a few nights in Hotel Telegraaf, a sumptuous hotel and spa situated in the old town. Prices start from 185 Euros a night including meals and treatments.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland is a small but vibrant centre complete with eclectic, colourful buildings and plenty in terms of things to see and do. The weather in Iceland is unpredictable to say the least; this is definitely a city break for those who want history and culture over a tan. Reykjavik has plenty of history, with countless buildings of interest as well as a busy schedule of museums, shows and performances.

Budget: For a budget break, visit in the peak of summer and wile away the day people watching in the countless parks and open spaces like a true local. Of course, it costs nothing to set up camp and wait for a glimpse of the breath taking Northern Lights.

Luxury: To spend those pennies be sure to book a front row seat at one of Iceland’s renowned theatre and music performances in the National Theatre of Iceland; infamous for its local and international schedule of events.

Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Lying not far from its globally famed cousin, Dubai, Ras-al-Khaimah is a city offering much the same as the luxury and opulence that the UAE is loved for, but is a bit less quiet on the tourist front. The sole thing to do in these cities is to simply be wowed by the lashings of wealth and glamour which literally pave the streets.

Budget: You don’t often combine the UAE with budget getaways, but just because the city is dripping with gold, doesn’t mean you have to be. You can still enjoy everything Ras al-Khaimah has to offer without blowing the budget; enjoy the infamous malls, spas and manmade islands with your eyes and not with your purse!

Luxury: It really isn’t hard to find luxury in Ras al-Khaimah, but if you’re keen to push the boat out you could always sample the Hilton, UAE style. The Emirates don’t do things by half and a night in the Hilton is an experience you’ll never forget.

LET’S GO SKIING

The idea of a skiing holiday conjures up exciting journeys up mountains in chairlifts and cable cars and even more exciting journeys racing downhill on skis. Or maybe tentative first steps, a fair number of tumbles and lots of laughter. Whether the skier is a complete novice or very experienced, there should be lots of fun and banter with friends and family. Snowy mountains and bright blue skies with fantastic views from the tops of mountains make for a perfect holiday. Some schools and colleges offer organised skiing holidays for their students, which can be a great team building experience as well as an introduction to the joys of a skiing holiday. On a skiing holiday there may well be access to other activities such as swimming in the hotel pool, walking on mountain paths, maybe hiring a bike, or using the equipment in the hotel gym. Hopefully an active holiday will be fun and encourage good habits regarding the amount of physical activity undertaken and to increase the fitness level of the students.

For students in their early teens, this may be their first holiday without their family, or at least their first holiday abroad. The students will learn to take responsibility for themselves and take the first step into the big world without that family support, but still safe, knowing that staff are with them. The skiing holiday may offer some academic learning if it is in a country where the language spoken is being studied at home, or where students are studying the history or geography of a region. Student holidays where curriculum subjects are studied can be arranged with help from companies such as TravelBound.

SKIING ISN’T THE ONLY SPORT

Skiing isn’t the only sport which will make a fantastic student holiday. When organising an activity holiday, it is worth considering other possibilities such as football and hiking. There are companies such as TravelBound who arrange a good range of sporting holidays for students of various ages. Visiting the Alps in the summer opens up possibilities of other exciting activities such as white water rafting and mountain biking. There are fantastic mountain walks to be enjoyed, though these can be experienced in almost any country. It may be possible to arrange a holiday which combines a physical activity with some other study such as history or language.

Whatever the focus of the holiday, it should be a great experience for the young people. There is the opportunity to learn a little independence and also to experience a different outlook on the world. They may get to know their fellow students better and cement one or two good friendships which will last a lifetime. Thorough preparation beforehand and good follow up to the holiday should make sure that everyone gets the most out of it.

AUTHOR BIO
Ruth Ellis writes regularly on travel for a range of websites and blogs. She has been involved in arranging holidays for young people, including using the experience of companies including TravelBound.

One of the best known beaches to explore in Dubai is the Jumeirah Beach Park. This beach boasts crystal white sands and turquoise waters, amidst hotels, clubs, restaurants and public areas. There are picnic areas where the smells of barbecue permeate the air. Children can play at the playgrounds, swimming pools, and game areas.

The Al Mazmar Beach Park is man-made! Explore it’s amusement areas, green lawns, beaches, numerous swimming pools, amphitheatre, kid’s play area, lagoons, and picnic areas. There are different green zones where relaxing under trees, having picnic lunches, flying kites, or playing football provide separate places of fun.

Your time in the sun won’t be complete without exploring the Habtoor Grand Beach Resort and Spa. This place has a restaurant, swim-up bar, and waterslides. Whether lounging in the sun, or splashing down waterslides, or swimming in the sea, or frolicking in the pool, or riding the waves, this place really caters to having fun.

Explore Nasimi Beach where there are plenty of sun loungers, plush day beds, and private cabanas. On Saturday there’s a delicious barbecue lunch with an endless supply of bubbles.

For a private beach explore The Pavilion Marina & Sports Club. This is one of Dubai’s most well-equipped beach clubs. Amidst sounds of music and ocean waves, there’s the inevitable cries from those on the Wild Wadi rides! While relaxing on the beach there are towels, ice lollies, slushies, and fruit offered to you. For the adventurous try banana-boating or windsurfing!

The Quay Club offers unspoiled white beaches. This is one of Dubai’s most prestigious and swankiest beach spots ripe for exploration! This is not a cheap place, but you get two pools, towels, and beach butlers bring guests fresh fruit and cool towels. The kids get free buckets and spades! The beach bar has a great menu, and luckily the entry price includes food and drink vouchers. This is a popular beach, but you’ll always find a sun lounger or cabana. You will be catered to – hand and foot!

After a day at the beach take the family to the Reel Cinemas at the Dubai Marina Mall – it even played the Lion King show.

Spending time on a narrow boat appeals to many different people, suiting everyone from couples looking for a romantic adventure to families wanting to keep everyone entertained or retirees wishing to enjoy nature. If you’ve never been on a barge holiday before, however, it can seem a little daunting so hopefully the following will help put your mind at rest.

Time to slow down

A canal boat holiday gives a great opportunity to get away from the stresses of modern life and slow right down. You’ll be able to enjoy travelling through a landscape that encompasses both the peaceful countryside and British industrial heritage. You can enjoy eating alone in the middle of nowhere, in cafes in quaint villages or waterside pubs and enjoy operating locks and spending time outdoors.

Modern facilities

And you don’t need to worry about the facilities. Modern narrow boats are surprisingly spacious and well equipped. They come in different lengths, suitable for different party sizes and skill levels. They come equipped with flushing toilets, showers, hot water, full cooking facilities and equipment such as TVs and DVD players.

No experience required

It doesn’t matter if you’ve no previous experience either. The company you are hiring the boat from will show you how everything works and make sure you are comfortable before setting off alone. It is, however, advisable to have at least two fit adults in your party. One will need to stay on the boat and steer whilst the other works the paddles and gates at locks.

Picking a route

It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to deciding where to go the UK has more than two thousand miles of canals and rivers to choose from! If it’s your first time on a barge you’ll probably want to choose a route with only a few locks. Alternatively you could travel on the Thames as there are automatic locks.

Different routes have different appeals. The Lancaster Canal, for example, is peaceful and has 42 miles without any locks. The Oxford canal passes through plenty of interesting villages. The Worcester and Birmingham canal has lots of tunnels and locks whilst the Kennet and Avon goes through the historic city of Bath.

It is worth remembering that, unless you’re taking a circular route, you need to ensure that you can get back to the base destination by the allotted time. The speed limit is 4 mph but if wash from your boat is hitting the bank you’re going too fast so much of the time you’ll be travelling slower. You’ll also need to factor in time for navigating locks and will need to moor up before nightfall. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to go as far as possible. Instead make the most of the opportunity to relax and slow down!

AUTHOR BIO

Katie Saintly writes about travel for a range of websites and blogs. She has recently enjoyed a family holiday exploring the Kennet and Avon on a canal boat.

In many people’s minds yachts, like horses, tend to be associated with money. Not just as an expensive hobby, but with the mega rich in curious headgear, unsuitable shoes and expensive handbags. It doesn’t have to be that way. Just as you don’t need to live in the countryside next door to a stable to learn to ride, you don’t need to live by the sea to learn to sail. No-one learns to ride a horse by taking a first lesson on last year’s Derby winner. Neither do you start learning to sail by steering a powerful motor launch through heavy waves.

Choose a location

Sailing is something you can learn at your own pace, your own budget and in a location of your choice. There are sailing courses available around the British coast, especially the Solent and in many European locations such as Croatia and Greece. If you would like to go further afield, courses are available in Thailand, Australia and the Caribbean.

If you an absolute beginner but hope one day to be able to skipper your own boat, start by taking an online course in navigation and seamanship. It will give you the basic knowledge to find your position and direction in the water and stay safe. This works as well for motor boaters as sailors, crews and skippers. Once you become interested in navigation, you could try looking at the sky at night and learn to recognise directions from the positions of the stars.

Course levels

Sailing schools will offer courses for individuals starting with no experience, for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. They can be one to five-day courses that become increasingly demanding the more experienced the student. At the advanced level the course provide instructions in advanced navigation techniques, night time sailing, tackling difficult waters and long passages. Advanced skipper qualifications like the Yachtmaster Offshore course enables a successful student to work as a skipper anywhere in the world and work towards being an instructor.

There are speciality courses for groups which could be families or teenagers. Courses can be arranged during half term holidays so everyone learns sailing together.

A good introductory course for absolute beginners is the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Competent Crew course which lasts over two consecutive weekends. This teaches basic sailing techniques including mooring and casting off. Students seeking recognised international qualifications should opt for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC) that is recognised by many governments, especially in Europe. This qualification allows individuals to sail in those countries where formal sailing qualifications are compulsory. This is a five-day course which ends with an assessment and an exam that the student must pass.

Conclusion

Combine sailing courses with holidays over the years and eventually you will be able to hire and skipper your own boat. By sharing the costs with your crew, you can have a bargain sailing holiday on a beautiful yacht or launch.

Author bio

Hilary Jones is a qualified sailing instructor and writes articles for a variety of sailing websites and blogs. For more information on sailing courses see the website http://www.sunsail.co.uk/sailing-schools.

Heron Island, Australia

Australia is a fantastic place to holiday whatever the reason, so for a honeymoon, you need something that little bit special. So, on Heron Island you can actually seal the deal on the Great Barrier Reef. This beautiful island is a magnificent place to discover and not many people can honeymoon on one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Enjoy celebrating and relaxing after the stress and overwhelming excitement of the big day on a picturesque part of the world, in a sumptuous hotel offering all the leisure and spa activities you could imagine, and when relaxing and soaking up the sun gets too much, book yourself some scuba lessons to discover what’s under the magnificent, deep blue sea.

Boracay, the Philippines

A slightly more tourist option, but making it more affordable and accessible than most, Borocay Island is one of the more popular Islands on the Philippines, but for good reason. It’s an absolutely stunning and action packed island offering some of the most beautiful beaches and magnificent views in the world. Asides from the beauty of the place it also has a selection of fabulous and luxurious hotels to create the perfect honeymoon experience. Take your pick from a list of magnificent hotels all offering sumptuous spas and luxurious leisure experience for a truly unforgettable holiday. Of course, asides from luxury it also offers more subtle accommodation options for a remote island experience at half the price.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali is becoming a staple feature for backpackers and honeymooners; both come for the remote, still and tranquil vibe of such a pure and picturesque island. For your honeymoon you can enjoy a majestic resort with true Asian influence across contemporary and traditional hotels, most of which feature unforgettable spa and relaxation treatments, or simply magical cocktails overlooking a beautifully serene beach. If sunning and sipping is not for you, you can break away from the mainstream and get out and about to discover the intriguing history, culture and customs of Indonesia. Not only will you cause envy amongst friends with breath-taking photos, you can also amaze them with truly enriching experiences such as elephant rides or volcano trekking.

Fregate Island, Seychelles

For a truly unforgettable and unbeatable honeymoon experience why not celebrate your wedding like a real life princess and holiday like royals on Fregate Island; the honeymoon Island of choice the Kate and William. This truly secluded and bespoke island in the Seychelles is an out of this world experience of stunning beaches, glamorous hotels and unique possibilities which await you on this Island famed by celebrities across the world. The spa is nestled into a mountain top featuring the freshest water, exceptional therapies and a truly remarkable view, the dining is majestic and the only hotel on the island has four glorious villas for a truly private and peaceful honeymoon experience.

Springs – Australia’s Red Centre…
Often known simply as ‘Alice’, Alice Springs is situated in the very centre of the Australian continent, an arid expanse of multiple deserts that has been inhabited by the Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. First explored by Europeans in 1861, it was the discovery of alluvial gold (loose gold mixed in with sand and sediment) that triggered permanent settlement, and since then Alice has embodied a juxtaposition of ancient cultures, untamed environments and modern technology. That’s enough about the history – let’s look at some of the amazing activities you can enjoy on a trip to Alice Springs!

Ride Camels with Pyndan Camel Tracks
As the only camel tour operator in Alice Springs, Pyndan Camel Tracks offers a unique experience for groups of up to 16 people to trek through the outback, from the White Gums Valley through to the awe-inspiring MacDonnell Ranges. Touring the Red Centre on the back of a camel is extra-special because you’re able to view the habitat without all the noise and pollution associated with motor vehicles, meaning that you can take in all of the unspoiled sounds and sights without degrading it for future generations.

Walk the Larapinta Trail
The Larapinta Trail is one of the most spectacular walks in Australia, stretching for 223km from one end to the other, although luckily you don’t have to walk the whole way in one go! Broken into 12 sections, you can choose to dip your toes in with a day walk or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can bring you camping gear and set up camp overnight. The day walks range from 9 – 25km, while walks with an overnight stay cover up to 50km, and you even do the whole trail – 10 days and 9 nights of genuine outback exploring!

See Alice from the Air with Sunrise Ballooning
If you venture out from the township just before dawn, you’ll see a blanket of stars make way for the splintered light of a new day, and the only sounds you’ll hear are native birds welcoming the sunshine. You ascend as the sun rises, rays of light illuminating the MacDonnell Ranges – this is hot-air ballooning in Alice Springs. After taking in the 360 degree views you’ll land to a champagne breakfast – kind of like the opposite to a food delivery and the perfect start to another sunny day in the Red Centre! Not bad for a morning’s work;)

Explore the Simpson Desert
Although you may have images of the Simpson Desert as an lifeless stretch of red sand from horizon to horizon, in reality it is a bountiful area that covers over 150,000 kilometres from South West Queensland to the Northern Territory. When the wet season comes (October to April each year), the desert explodes with life, as wildflowers bloom and the wildlife makes the most of the abundance.

The tires of your 4-wheel drive will stir up dusty red plumes as you pass by exotic oases, unique animals and rugged landscapes crossed by mesmerizing sand dunes. This is Australia at its best.

Uluru
Also known by the name ‘Ayers Rock’, the traditional name of this magnificent monolith also refers to the surrounding area, and is a sacred place for the native Anangu people. Although the climbing of Uluru is a controversial matter, visiting the site is a must-do when you’re in Alice Springs, as Uluru is only a few hours’ drive away. Even if you don’t climb to the top of Uluru, even just by being in its presence you’ll feel the immense power that this cultural landmark offers to all those that see it in real life.

Have you explored any of these activities or travelled to Alice Springs? What else would recommend that people do when they visit this part of Australia? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

Bio:
Jacob E. Dawson works with Delivery Hero, the place to order
Home Delivery in Melbourne, and is an inbound marketing consultant and entrepreneur with a passion for creating value! Follow Jacob on twitter @jacobedawson and on Google+.

One fantastic way to enjoy the best of Britain is with a camping holiday, a fun, outdoor adventure with the family, or a romantic, evening under the stars for a couple. Have a look at some of these superb options for camping holidays across the UK.

Yurts in Yorkshire

Yorkshire offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain and is the perfect spot for an adventure filled activity break or a romantic, relaxing break in the country. The Yorkshire Dales is an absolutely magnificent spot encompassing mile upon mile of stunning views, idyllic scenes and stunning spots. Besides the vast, open spaces and glorious nature, it is also filled with quaint villages, offering hearty local food, craft markets, friendly pubs, farmers’ markets and plenty of historical towns and traditional sights.
For camping with a difference in magnificent Yorkshire why not opt for a Yurt? These traditional tepee style tents offer all the luxury and warmth of a hotel in the great outdoors. These rustic living spaces offer a cosy resort in the midst of vast, rolling hills and majestic nature. During the day you can try the weird and wonderful such as zorbing and hiking, explore the local villages or simply soak up the atmosphere on the flowery grass.

Glamping in the Lochs

For those that aren’t keen on the nature and outdoor-ness of camping, glamping is becoming an ever more popular option for those from the city to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet in the beautiful British country. These excellent canvas homes are complete with beds and all the luxuries you’d expect from a home with the added bonus of looking out atop breath taking views. The Lochs offer fantastic scenery and stunning views as well as the opportunity to visit the infamous Loch Ness Monster. The idyllic villages surrounding the Lochs offer a beautiful retreat where you can enjoy locally sourced, exquisite meals, a few drinks in cosy, country pubs and beautiful stores selling local handicrafts.
Glamping in the Lochs will have you living life in the wild, getting up close and personal with nature and enjoying the natural retreat of the Scottish Highlands. After all the outdoors adventure, forget unravelling sleeping bags and fighting with tents, glamping will give you a well-deserved rest atop a comfy bed in a warm and spacious canvas tent.

Treetop living in Hampshire

For those that really love becoming one with nature, feeling the wild winds on your face and enjoy getting lost in the great outdoors, why not try living above the trees in a stunning treetop house? The beautiful district of Hampshire offers the best of traditional countryside, vast, rolling hills, babbling brooks and plenty of activities including hiking, cycling, rock climbing as well as the more adventurous such as zorbing and white water rafting. A holiday in Hampshire could also just be the opportunity to get away from it all, kick back, relax and do very little as you let the soft, country atmosphere take you away.

Where better to stay that nestled into the stunning Hampshire forest. Treetops are an absolutely breath taking accommodation option offering luxurious living in the height of the forests. Treetop cottages are actually modern, open plan living spaces with all the mod cons and home comforts, with the added magical aspect of being high above the trees with the clouds and the birds.

I also have a great fascination to see historical monuments and am eager to book cheap tickets to Budapest from Dublin, where I currently reside. It will take over 3 hours of air travel time to reach the Hungarian capital on Aer Lingus flights. I’ll be traveling soon to Hungary for an exclusive tour of its famous castles and historical ruins.

My first destination would be Budapest, which is often termed as the “Little Paris of Middle Europe”, which is famous for its monuments that reflect its own 1,000-year-old culture as well as the relics of those who are settled here since long. It would be indeed fascinating to see the remains from Roman occupation as well as the Turks. Buda and Pest are the two sides of the Hungarian capital Budapest that stretches along the banks of the river Danube. The two sides represent the city’s two different characters. The visit to suburban Buda as well as its castle district would take the visitors down the memory lane. Here, I’ll get opportunity to see the caves, museums, medieval houses and streets, and the Roman ruins. The Pest side is dynamic and houses Europe’s largest parliament building, riverside promenades, café houses, antique stores, bookstores and flea markets.    

During my visit to Budapest and Hungary, I’ll be mostly focusing on visiting the numerous castles. While embarking on my sightseeing, I first plan to visit the Buda Castle and Citadel. Buda Castle, situated in the middle of Budapest, is the richest castle of Hungary. It is also the largest. A full day needs to be devoted to explore all the good parts of the complex. The Buda Castle hosts several festivals, museums, restaurants, hotels, confectionaries, and much more. The Citadel is next to the Buda Castle, and is located on Gellért Hill. Be ready to get a romantic view of nearly the entire city from the above as you climb hundreds of stairs of the Citadel.

The Vajdahunyad Castle, situated in Városliget or the City Park, which is famous for portraying the 1,000 years of the Hungarian architecture, is must-visit in Budapest. A big open-air ice-skate ring, used as a lake for boating in the summer, is just next to the castle.

Among various castles that I plan to visit in Hungary includes Eger Castle, Esztergom Castle and Basilica, Visegrád Citadel, Castle of Diósgyor, Castle of Sümeg, Somlói Castle ruins, Castle of Gyula, Castle of Boldogko, Szigligeti Castle ruins, Castle of Tata, Bory Castle and Castle of Füzér.

Laura Creole Plantation Tour is an award-winning New Orleans plantation tour. Lasting for a few hours, the tour gives an insight into the privileged, elegant, and tragic Creole world. Dating back to the turn of 19th century, Laura plantation was acquired by a French naval veteran and therefore was then called l’habitation Duparc’. The tour exposes the visitors to real-life accounts of all those who called this farm their home, be they owners, slaves, women or children.

Laura Creole Plantation Tour Highlights

The guided Laura Creole Plantation Tour in New Orleans is based upon five thousand pages of documents associated with this plantation discovered in the Archives Nationales in Paris. Major stories of the tour come from Laura’s book: Memories of the Old Plantation Home.

Laura Plantation Tour starts with a visit to Maison Principale, built by Duparc within 11 months of his acquisition of the plantation property. Major attractions of the mansion are its raised basement and galleries, chambers and offices, service rooms and common rooms. In this portion of tour, you also get to see Laura’s family heirlooms and their Creole furnishings. Though visitors are charmed by age-old traditions and customs of Creoles and the skills of endowed artisans, they are also introduced to the tragic lives of slaves who lived here.

After exploring the mansion, visitors move towards the sugarcane fields, buildings and plantation gardens, including the kitchen garden, Jardin Francais and BananaLand. These gardens narrate the sagas of the sobering human-slavery events happened here.

During the tour, visitors get to see the slave quarters too. These unique features of Laura plantation were occupied by plantation employees till late 1970s. A few of them are still intact and they have been enlisted on the National Register of Historic Places.

Specialty Themed Tours at Laura Creole Plantation

Besides the “Creole Family Saga” Tour, there are three specialty themed tours at this New Orleans plantation.
• Plantation Slaves, Artisans & Floklore
• Women on the Creole Plantation
• Laura’s Taste of Wine

Each tour lasts for 90 minutes and costs $25 per person.

Just like at least one month advance booking for airline tickets on cheap flights to New Orleans is required to avoid last minute hassles, same way visitors seeking specialty tours at Laura Creole Plantation need prior reservation at least a month prior to their tour date.

If you’re planning your trip in near future, check and use valid promo code for last minute airfares to save on last minute flight deals

Author Bio: Rachana is a travel blogger. She works for CheapOair .com, the third most popular online travel brands in the U.S. You may contact her for travel tips at Twitter.com/Ruby_Dave.