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Sunshine on Rhodes

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:23:21 +0000

The Greek island of Ρόδος or Rhodes is located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest and most populated of the 12 large and 150 smaller islands in the group known as the Dodecanese islands. The islands size and population has ensured its status as the administrative centre of the island group and has been key to the history of the region. A history which is rich and extensive.

Rhodes is well known as being the former home of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Colossus of Rhodes. This massive statue of the Greek Titan Helios was erected to celebrate Rhodes’ victory over Antigonus I Monophthalmus whose attemptet siege of Rhodes in 305BC proved unsucessful. The massive structure was erected between 292 and 280 BC and at that time was one of the tallest structures in the world. The site on which it stood, as well as other sections of ancient Rhodes have become one of the most popular destinations in Europe, large numbers of visiors flock to its Medieval old town, which is a World Heritage Site

Rhodes lies in close proximity to the other islands in the region, many of which are much much smaller and some of which are unhabited. Their seperation and somewhat isolation makes them well worth a visit. Many, even the smallest are studded with sites of historical interest. Interesting casltes, Byzantine Churches and other ancient ruins that dot their landscapes. Many boat tour operaters based in Rhodes offer boat trips to a number of these smaller islands. Often refreshments or barbeques are included in the price, the operator will often stop at beauty spots on the way so you’re able to go for a swim and explore the area better.

The weather on Rhodes is something upon which you can usually rely. It enjoys long, hot summers, where sunshine reigns and rainfall is rather unlikely. The main tourist season for the island is June to September during which time the average temperature is 28°C. Wind blowing over from the Sahara brings hot, dry air that often brings the temperature into the high 30s during July and August. So be sure to bring the sun cream! Temperatures rarely drop into single figures, even in the winter months. Although this is Rhodes wet season. The island see 60% of its annual rainfall between December and Febuary.

Photo by Alexander Saprykin/ flickr.com

British Airlines in Skytrax Rankings

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:15:15 +0000

British airlines perform well in the online rankings site
British airlines perform fair very well on Skytrax, the world’s largest online evaluator of airlines. Overall, they are one of the most elite companies on the site, with airlines up to the 4 star category. British airlines have been credited with providing their customers with exceptionally quick services including a speedy check-in as well as a smooth security check. British airlines also tended to have very high ratings in terms of customer service. They were described as being ‘friendly and co-operative.’

The criteria to be met on the online grading system is divided up into two general categories: website and general rating and airport services. There are also two variable categories, long haul or short haul, and then first class, business class, premium economy and economy class. Airlines that were based in Britain did exceptionally well in business, luxury, and economic service categories. They were able to distinguish themselves in these multitude of services.

The one area where British airlines did not perform as well as some of the airlines based in other countries was the queuing time before takeoff. This was cited by most customers as a minor problem. Many people cited the airline assistants to be very friendly and helpful. Customers also mention how the food was very delicious and the flights had minimal turbulence. There are only five 5 star airlines, and so a 4 start airline is truly an accomplishment.

Skytrax is the largest airline review site which covers airlines from all around the world. They based their evaluations not only on customer reviews but all on professional writers who evaluate airlines unbiasedly. To receive a 4 star rating is no easy task. Airlines in Britain have been able to provide their customers with not only quality traveling, but with an entire flying experience that makes them stand out amongst their peers.

picture: Simon_sees/ flickr.com

Lonely Planet 2012 Best Countries to Travel

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:31:33 +0000

As every year the world famous travel magazin Lonely Planet nominated the ten most popular destinations in the category “Individual Travel“ - with some surprise winners.

1. Uganda
With stability returning to the country, recovering wildlife and the beautiful Nile River Uganda is a beautiful country located between sprawling jungles and snow-tipped mountains. The city of Kampala is the safest in Africa, and has a virile nightlife.

2. Myanmar (Burma)
Another country that just opened up its borders, Myanmar is the ideal place for the independent traveler. Surrounded by white-sand beaches and towering mountains, with an intriguing Buddhist subculture.

3. Ukraine
A beautiful countryside with forests teeming with wildlife. Ukraine will also host the 2012 Euro football (soccer) championship. And the beer is cheaper than the water, literally.

4. Jordan
Jordan is one of the friendliest nations in the Middle East. Jordan has successfully modernized while still maintaining its cherished traditions and culture. With the rising economy and tourist infrastructure, it is the most appealing county in the Middle East to Westerners.

5. Denmark
This country won yet again the “best quality of life” on Earth. Denmark has thousands of miles of bicycles routes and a beautiful Danish architecture.

6. Bhutan
This is a reclusive country tucked back in Asia, thrush with Buddhist influence. This mountainous country is a place to behold. And tourists can explore the country on less than $200 US dollars a day.

7. Cuba
Cuba has recently relaxed its restrictions on private enterprise and is slowly embracing capitalism more and more every day. This tropic paradise has an endless stream of coffee, rum, beautiful beaches and the best mojitos in the world.

8. New Caledonia
This tropical France in the middle of the South Pacific boasts French cuisine in a irresistible tropical climate. However the native Melanesian culture has been on the rise, Caledonia is a great cultural mixture.

9. Taiwan
Taiwan has also had beautiful landscapes and a bustling economy, but they have embraced the biking scene as they have add island routes, and many others to bring visitors thousands of miles of bike paths.

10. Switzerland
This country has economic growth, beautiful slopes, and political stability, making it a prime destination for any worldly traveler. This country is more than just chocolate and ski slopes, however. Switzerland has a teeming nightlife as well.

picture: Martijn.Munneke/ flickr.com

St. Petersburg. Cultural pursuits in a Winter Wonderland.

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:50 +0000

St. Petersburg, often referred to as Russias most westerly city, is the second largest after Moscow and was the capital of Russias imperial empire. This city is steeped in culture and is the perfect winter tourist destination. St. Petersburg is argueably one of Russias most beautiful cities, its lavish architecture and cultural significance remind us of it’s important role as the centre of the third largest empire in history.

Art is also something that this city has in abundance and anyone with an interest in art should make their way to the Hermitage, the largest art museum in the world. The impressive collection of over three million items makes this a must see. A range that extents from Egyptian antiquities, Spanish fine art, Pre-historic pottery to an impressive collection of Neoclassical, Impressionist, and post-Impressionist art, this museum has something to offer all the culturally aware.
The city has a large assortment of restaurants, bars and cosy cafes where you can enjoy some authenic Russian cuisine or a glass of wine. Ensure to order yourself a portion of Borscht, a thick, traditional beetroot, beef and vegetable soup, served piping hot with a dollop of sour cream and a shot of vodka. This will certainly help to combat the cold of the Russian winter.
Finding somewhere to stay in St. Petersburg presents no significant problem and as you would expect the range of the scale is quite vast. Grand, historical imperial buildings that have been transformed into hotels make for an interesting experience but can be quite pricey. More moderate apartments or cheaper B&B’s suit the traveller with a smaller budget.
A trip to the Mariinsky Theatre to witness the majestic ballet on a snowy winter evening is an absolute must whilst visiting the city. Opened in 1860, the Mariinsky Theatre is lavishly decorated with crystal, azure and gilt. Even if you are not a huge fan of the ballet or opera, the splendid architectural aspects of the building are awe inspiring.
Taking place throughout December and January, the Arts Square festival is a great winter activity. The event showcases a number of traditional Russian classical musicians and local artists, making for a unique and diverse experience which is definitely worth a look.
This is a truely magical place in winter, settled snow on the glistening golden domes of Saint Isaacs cathedral, frozen rivers and the well known image of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood provide the perfect backdrop for those holiday snaps.

Picture: dorena-wm/ flickr.com

Skiing in Mount Blanc

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:17:46 +0000

I’ve got a good news! Since the 27^th Novembre, the Grands Montets area and its skiing pists are opened in Chamonix. From now on, you can enjoy the snow season with seasonal temperature and nice snow falls. All the conditions to have a nice week end and skyiing on the Mount Blanc are gathered!

You don’t konw how to ski? It’s not a problem! You’ve got ski schools with lessons to teach you how to ski.

You don’t like snow and skiing? It’s not a problem! Chamonix and its Mount Blanc can either be discovered in winter than in sommer. You’ve got plenty of activities that make Chamonix described as a truly outdoor paradise. The mountain scenery surpasses one’s wildest expectations and the Mont-Blanc, jewel in the crown, thrones silently over the Chamonix valley.

Anyway you can go and visit Chamonix whenever, you’ll always appreciate this beauty. To make you stay more comfortable, you can sleep in gites.

Spain to launch smoking ban

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:25:53 +0000

Being one of the only countries left in the EU allowing smoking in most public places, it has recently been annouced that on 2nd January 2011 a new bill will be discussed which will prohibit smoking in bars, cafés, restaurants and other public places. Spain is well known for its bar and restaurant culture in that locals enjoy socialising with friends, nibbling on tapas and smoking a few cigarettes as they discuss the working week. However it is likely that this typical Spanish scene may soon be a thing of the past. Many owners in the tourism and hospitality sector are naturally concerned on the impact the proposed ban will have on their business. Spain has always embraced smoking in their culture so bar and restaurant owners fear the ban will have a significant negative effect if it comes into place. Many have noted that regular customers enjoy the freedom of being able to have a cigarette with their coffee in the morning or being able to smoke inside while enjoying a glass of wine with friends. It is thought that the chances of the ban not being passed through parliament are very slim indeed.

Worrying amount of tourists travelling without insurance

admin — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 07:23:02 +0000

A recent study conducted by Whichbudget has provided alarming results highlighting how many European tourists regularly travel without insurance. Over 5,000 people took part in the survey from various countries throughout Europe. The results showed that only 37% of Brits always go away with travel insurance and that 44% never take out any form of cover before going away. Spain was slightly worse with only 25% always purchasing insurance, followed by an alarming result from Italian responses showing only 10% take out adequate cover. It appears that even with recent travel disasters being broadcast all over the news such as airline strikes, tour operators going bust and the volcanic ash cloud, that this is still not enough to encourage tourists to purchase travel insurance before going away. The results also showed that 11% of UK tourists only ever take out insurance when they travel outside of the EU and a worrying 8% choose to travel with their EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) alone. The CEO of WhichBudget expressed his concern over the alarming results provided by the survey and explained that it is often difficult to predict when an airline or tour operator will go under. It is therefore extremely important that tourists cover themselves for all eventualities.

Predicted increase in ’staycations’ say experts

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:15:09 +0000

At a recent travel forum held at Bournemouth University, UK, leading academics and tourism experts predicted that in forthcoming years, more tourists will be choosing to spend their holidays in Europe than ever before. Professor Adam Blake explained that airline industries will be impacted in the future by further ‘green taxes’ which will subsequently have an impact of flight costs for the passenger. With this in mind, tourism experts at the forum predicted that more people will be staying either in the UK or taking shorter trips to Europe as opposed to travelling further afield on long haul flights. Other tourism experts pointed out, that with this in mind, more work would need to be carried out on public transport in the UK and less road works scheduled for bank holidays. Flo Powell, director of ACE (association of cruise experts) highlighted that the UK is experiencing a big growth in cruises to northern Europe as tourists ‘turn their back on air travel’.

Marbella. Euro-trash or Euro-cash?

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 07:13:38 +0000

Marbella has always been a popular holiday resort that is somewhat hard to define. Many people imagine it as a more up-market Benidorm, frequented by boozy Brits looking for a cheap holiday on the Costa del Crime. However, despite its ever-growing popularity, it appears that Marbella has a much more complex story to tell. On the one hand, Marbella is known for its ‘dark-side’ where villains, drug-dealers and prostitutes form part of a corrupt and dangerous community. On the other hand, however, Marbella is home to some of the richest people in the world who come to the Spanish city to show-off, party hard and flash the cash. Who can blame them though? With 300 days of sunshine a year and some of the most beautiful beaches in the south of Spain it is obvious why the Andalucian City has a constant flow of rich European tourists every year. Designer labels, private yachts and Champagne ‘Spray Parties’ are not out of place in Marbella and help reinforce its immaculate image but those behind the scenes know that there is much more than meets the eye. Celebrities appear to find refuge in the city, claiming that they can be left in peace and are unbothered by press and Papprazzi.
Whether Marbella really is becoming the Spanish ‘ghetto’ or is as glitzy and glamorous as it would like to appear, the only way to find out is to experience it for yourself!

Morocco, growth in tourism

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 06:46:20 +0000

The living history and unique art of Morocco provide an appealing environment for travelers.With its great imperial cities of Marrakesh and Fez or the cosmopolitan city of Casablanca, Morocco has attracted visitors for centuries, and tourism keeps on growing.
This year is also planed to be successful ; The Moroccan government confirmed signals of a record tourism season. North Africa as a whole has also seen strong growth as a destination this year. Thanks to its Atlantic and Mediterranean coast, Morocco lies on Europe’s largest tourist zone and proposes a wide range of summer and winter activities. Tourists will have the chance to experience Trekking amongst the five geographical zones that include desert, coast and plains. An other way to enjoy your holidays in Morocco is to ride a Camel straight into the Sahara, or simply walk in one of those open-air markets with colorful crafts such as carpets, pottery, jewelry, brassware and woodwork.

To discover Morocco, you can find Relais car rental stations where you need them to Rent a car in Casablanca or to Rent a car in Rabat . You can organize a trip in Marrakech and stay at Riad Marrakech Medina