The Louvre is a popular spot for visitors to Paris, and it’s easy to see why. There’s always great art and historical objects on show, amazing sculptures, and, of course, the Mona Lisa to take a peek at. And when you’ve finished exploring, sit outside by the picturesque fountains and glass pyramid to enjoy an ice cream or picnic.

Les Passages Couverts were built throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century before any of the modern shopping malls which are in Paris. The passages are historic retail hubs, covered with glass roofs; a great place to enjoy a bit of shopping whilst also taking in some true Parisian culture.

The Pompidou Centre makes for a great cultural day out in Paris. With a myriad of modern art installations, a walk around this intriguing building will encourage plenty of interested discussion, whether you like the artwork or not! Even the elaborate and striking outer elevator into the museum is enough to get excited about.

The Cité des Sciences is Paris’ science museum, and is sure to engage big and little kids alike. With a planetarium, a giant cinema screen hosting 3D films and an exhibition inside a real submarine, this is a great place to explore with the family.

The Arc de Triomphe is another not-to-be-missed activity. Make your way to this traffic encased marvel by taking the underground, and once you’re there take in the grand sights and amazing architecture, sparing a thought for the lost soldiers it honors. Climb the many steps to the top, too, to find out more about the structure in the information centre, and lap up the amazing views.

Sainte Chapelle Church is obligatory for those who love church buildings and architecture in general. With some parts of the building dating back to the thirteenth century including its stained glass, and many newer parts restored in the nineteenth century. Look up when you enter; you’re met with a beautiful royal blue and gold star studded scene.

These are only a few of some of the cultural things to do in Paris; a few others include the Rodin Museum, seeing Notre Dame, the Musee de Cluny, the Catacombs…and much more! Paris is often seen as the place for a luxury short break, and yes, certainly it makes for an amazing weekend away, but there’s so much to do here that you could quite easily spend a full week or so here. And if you want to stay in a high quality property for a reasonable price, and make your way around this beautiful city at your own pace, why not try a self catered holiday apartment rental in Paris? There’s lots to choose from, so why not book yours now? You could be waking up in a comfy bed, enjoying a croissant on your balcony and exploring the streets of Paris in no time! Find an Parisian apartment rental at pureholidayhomes.com.

Picture: simo0082/ flickr.com

There is more to Šumava than nature, however. The region is home to beautiful towns featuring historical and cultural attractions. The town of Klatovy is a popular Šumava tourist destination. Klatovy is home to Černé Jezero, the largest natural lake in the Czech Republic. The lake’s surface appears black in colour, giving it a mysterious appearance. The town also features Velhartice Castle, constructed in the 13th century. The castle, which overlooks a romantic valley, grants tourists
the chance to explore its unusual defence system.

Prachatice is another of Šumava’s towns. The archaeological village of Netolice, located atop of St. John Hill, is where tourists can delight in beautiful views of Prachatice and its surrounds. The birthplace of Jan Hus, one of the forefathers of the Czech language and the first person to translate the bible into Czech, is situated in Prachatice.

The highlight of a trip to Šumava is National Park Šumava, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Covering almost 70,000 hectares, it is the largest national park in the Czech Republic. The park, in conjunction with the German Böhmerwald, is the largest forested area in Central Europe. The park is dominated by forest, streams, and glacier lakes. Tourists who choose to visit this natural attraction can spot deer and elk. Lynx are also sighted frequently.

For those who wish to get active in Šumava in the summer, the region offers a wide range of possibilities for bicycle riders, from short rides through quiet villages to strenuous journeys through the mountains. The most popular activity in the Czech Republic, however, is canoeing on the rivers of the Bohemian Forest. During the winter, Šumava offers outstanding facilities for both cross country and downhill skiing. The main skiing centre in Šumava is Špícák. Here, tourists will find downhill slopes for beginners and seasoned skiers. For the cross country skier, there are 120 kilometres worth of tracks, several of which lead into the quaint villages located at the very bottom of the Špícák Mountain.

Despite the fact that Šumava is not a well-known tourist destination, the region has various tourism facilities to cater for its visitors. It is rather easy to find suitable accommodation in this magnificent region and there is a right option for every budget; from comfortable holiday houses to luxurious hotels and from cosy B&Bs to beautifully situated campsites.

Image: flickr/donald judge

Travel insurance polices provide cover for a range of different risks, and the type required will depend on the nature of your trip. This will determine the likelihood of a risk occurring. It is well advised for someone going on a skiing trip to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy that will cover any hospital bills in the event of an accident on the slopes, for example.

Once a traveller is able to determine the type of travel insurance cover that they will need for their trip, they will be in a position to find the right insurance company to offer this. Many of the large, well-known insurance companies that provide travel insurance also offer other levels of insurance to cater to all a client’s needs. However, there are also insurance companies on the market that specialise in travel insurance alone. It is worth shopping around to obtain the best deal and even checking existing sources, such as credit card companies, to determine whether they can offer a suitable travel policy.

Travel insurance policies are available in a number of different forms, such as single trip, multi trip and annual. Working out which type offers the most benefit will enable a saving to be made.

Suitable coverage by a travel insurance policy is necessary for any trip to ensure that the insured person is not left out of pocket in the event of a risk occurring. Whether a traveler is the victim of theft, an accident or even if their flight is cancelled, there can be serious repercussions and a travel insurance policy help to reduce these.

picture: Betchaboy/ flickr.com

The Maldives, the smallest country in Asia in population and land area, is made up of a number of 1,192 islands and situated in the Indian Ocean. Due to its geographical location, the islands were heavily affected by the 2004 tsunami which presented the government with further political and economic challenges. The success and growth of the tourism industry on the islands has helped the nation to overcome these challenges.

The Maldives has recently undergone political changes in their endeavor to turn a theocracy into a democratic state. It has been rather challenging for president Nasheed to strengthen democracy and increase media freedom because he has been facing strong resistance from some of the opposition parties within the country. Due to the major role tourism plays here, the state ensures that the situation will be stable enough to maintain the high flow of tourists to the islands. Furthermore, the states understanding of the importance of the tourism industry, does not allow political challenges or upheaval to have any influence on the tourism industry, which is primarily managed by foreign investors.

Tourism has transformed the economy of the Maldives and allowed it to be less dependent on its fishing industry. The state increased the number of resorts from 2 to 95 and dedicated many of the islands to agriculture and tourism, leaving 185 to the native population of the country. Indeed, the state strove to promote its efforts to foreign tourists. Visitors aren’t required for example, to apply for a visa prior to their arrival on the islands, regardless of their nationality the are welcome, all they need is a valid passport, sufficient funds and proof of travel.

Picture: Jim Crocker/ flickr.com

Its presence on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook will ensure that you are kept up to date with the most current deals and offers out there. The site provides you with the convenience of being able to research a range of subjects from backpacking around Australia, foreign language booksellers in the UK and camping in Cornwall, to a range of car hire possibilites and air fare deals from around the globe that allows you to create your own custom made package and be inspired by the travel deals that are on offer to you.

An entry into the sites internal search engine refines your search and gives you access to more specific travel information. Entering ”Australia” for example yields a number of sites that deal with everything that concerns a journey down under. From infromation about the best beaches to visit to money guides for travellers dedicated to showing you the best ways to live well overseas on a tight budget, this site is a good start for anyone who is looking to undertake the adventure of a lifetime. Vist besttravelwebsites.com to find out what it can tell you!

London is big and one quickly gets the feeling when visiting for a short break that there is no way that it can all be done in a short time. Even after many visits, it is easy and common to make new discoveries and experience more of its rich history each and every time. Some of Londons main historical sights have almost become synonymous with its name and are the first things that come to mind when one thinks of this important city.

Her Majesty’s Royal Palaxe and Fortress, and a central player in British history, the Tower of London is one of the most famous fortresses in the world. Constructed over 900 years ago by William the Conqueror. In the past The Tower of London has been used as a prison a palace and an armoury.

Currently used to house the Crown Jewels, a visit to this historical building will give visitors an opportunity to see the Yeoman of the Guard (Beefeaters) guarding the jewels. Also on display are King Henry VIII’s and Charles’s spectacular armour. London Tower Bridge is close by and can be visited at the same time. London Tower Bridge is one of the sites where the Great Fire of London raged, one ofthe catastrophic event of 1666. The fire started in a little bakery shop on Pudding Lane and as most of the buildings in the city at the time where made of timber, the fire quickly spread causing devastation and burning down London Bridge.

Founded in 1042 by Edward the Confessor, this beautiful gothic structure that is Westminster Abbey has been used as the nations Coronation church. William the Conqueror was crowned here in 1066 and many Kings and Queens including the current Queen Elizabeth II have been crowned here.

Charles Dickens, Dr Samuel Johnson and Charles Darwin are among the many famous people buried here. Westminster Abbey has been the setting for many Royal weddings and funeral throughout the ages including the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. Westminster Abbey is a UNSESCO World Heritage site. Just a few more steps down the road and you are standing right in front of possibly the most recognisable symbol of the British state throughout the world. The Palace of Westminster, also known as The Houses of Parliament is the location for Britain’s two parliamentary houses, The Houses of Commons and the Houses of Lords. St Stevens Tower, the elegant clock tower often confused as Big Ben is located here. Big Ben is the name of the large bell that chines at quarter hourly intervals. The Houses of Parliament are open to the public, and other buildings of interest are the Victoria Tower, Westminster Hall and the Commons Chamber and the Lords Chamber.

Image: tonyhall/flickr.com

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 attempted siege of Rhodes in 305BC proved unsuccessful. 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

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

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

The RTW-Ticket (Round the world ticket) offers you the oppurtunity to choose. This is the ticket for the traveller whose feet quickly get itchy or who can’t control the overwhelming sensation of wanderlust within them. This ticket allows the you to consider and pick out and plan a route that will take them on the journey of a life time. You can also adapt their travel plams so that it comes within the realms of affordabilty. If you don’t want to spend too much that you can just select a few destinations or stay on the same continent so this trip shouldn’t break the bank. If however you are looking for that full on world tour, you can do so with this ticket. The world truely is your oyster.
Europe is always an interesting destination and a good starting point for a world tour. The relative smallness of the european continent means that you can visit a large number of different countries, with vastly different cultures, languages and histories just by getting in a car or onto a train and travelling a short distance. Why not visit London to kick off your tour? Watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and then pop in to see her Majesty for afternoon tea. Go to the palace of Westminster to hear the chimes of Big Ben.
Another interesting destination would be Beijing, the capital of the Peoples Republic of China. Visit this vast and mysterious countrys wonders and sights. Go to the Temple of Heaven, the 15th century landmark that highlights the imporatance of the relationship between heaven and earth in Chinese culture. Check out the Forbidden City (that is luckily no longer forbidden). This was the palace of the Emperors, a huge vast complex of palaces, courtyards, classical Chinese archietecture and gardens. The importance and significance of this sacred place to Chinese cannot be underestimated. They used to beleive this complex was at the centre of the world. Also, don’t forget to bring your hiking boots! No trip to the Peoples Republic would be complete without a walk along the Great Wall.
Down under for our next visit. Get a taste for Australian life and culture by visiting Sydney. Sydney harbour shows off the beautiful skyline in all its glory. After embarking, be sure to go along to the world renowned Sydney Opera House, listen to the orchestra playing a number and enjoy a drink it its impressive bar. But you can’t leave Australia without having seen a few kangaroos, be sure to take a look at the Tarango Zoo and get close to the unique creatures that inhabit this vast island.
If you’re too cool for any of this then maybe a more chilled out destination would be the right one for you. A unique travel destination would be the ceremonial South Pole. Although its exact location is relatively difficult to determine due to shifting ice sheets, maybe you can catch up with some of the scientists that live here all year round. Failing that, consult an Emperor Penguin, they’re always here!
Off to north Africa now, the location of one of the wonders of the world. Cairo, the capital of Egypt a city brimming with ancient treasures. Visit the Citadel if you want to have a look at some of these wonders of antiquity while getting a full panoramic view of the city. Take a look at the Pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx, very well known egyptian images but extremely different and special in real life.
Off to capital hill next and its Washington D.C where we’re stopping. The Museum of American History on the mall is worth a look if your interested in finding out everything about America’s relatively short modern history. This musuem takes us on an adventure from the time of Columbus up to the modern day. A short mile walk to the south and you can get a few snaps with honest Abe, before setting of the short distance to the White House.
Our last stop take us to South America and to Machu Picchu, the ancient village of the Incas high up in the mountains. A must-see if you take an interest in Inca history. Tour some of the modern markets for amazing produce, blankets and pottery before carrying on to take a tour of the Temple of the Sun to get a taste of how they practiced the ancient relgiion of sun worshipping. Before you leave you should hed up to the pyramid paltform known as Intihuantana, this is where the ancients beleived that the sun was held in its orbit.
One last thing to remember is your camera. Your friends will not beleive that you’ve been on such an amazing trip if you leave it at home!

Picture: Rainer Sturm/ pixelio.de