Archive for the ‘Europe’ Category

Each year a Sand Sculpture event is held on Rochelongue beach at Cap d’Agde, a resort on the Mediterranean coast of France.  This renowned event is hosted by the local tourist board and this year’s event is due to take place in late May. In 2011 the theme for the main competition will be “40 Years of Cap d’Agde”.  There will also be more informal show where family groups and others who want to participate can make their own sand sculpture; the theme for this year is “Astrology”.

Artists competing in the event belong to the Association of Traveling Artists and have national and international experience of sand sculpting competitions.  Some of their impressive creations are three meters high!

The quality of the beach sand at Rochelongue is said to be perfect for building sand sculptures. Sand sculpting is similar to other types of sculpting in that it demands both artistic talents and scientific skills.  The competitors at Cap d’Agde tend to work in teams where one or two members are responsible for the artistic aspects of creating the sculpted form.  Another team member takes responsibility for the scientific element of the creation: to keep the sculpture intact it must be continuously sprayed to maintain an ideal level of humidity, because every grain of sand needs a fine mist coating less than 1,000 nanometers in depth.

Sculptures crafted at the Cap d’Agde Sand Sculpture events incorporate not only seawater and the perfect local sand but also elements like shells and driftwood that have been brought ashore by waves, to create unique and ingenious artifacts.

This event is well worth a visit, whether you wish to try your hand at making your own sculpture or want to check out the extraordinary creations of visiting artists.  For details of this year’s event and the artists participating in the 2011 competition, contact the Cap d’Agde tourist board.

Myrtos Beach is a fantastic place located on the southern end of the island of Crete. The beach is somewhat distinctive, having gray sand and shiny white pebbles. If you want to swim, the water is cool but not cold, and very easy to see in.

All of the island is very beautiful and a wonder to behold. You will be spellbound by the view of the bright blue ocean in combination with the sand of the beach. If you want to dive, snorkel, or sail, there are classes available for all of these activities.

If you want a place to stay, there are all kinds of hotels right by the beach. These are usually a little pricier, and cheaper lodging can be found in the nearby village, which is only a mile or so away from the beach. Walking to the beach is easy, and actually quite scenic along a gorgeous pathway you can take.

If you forgot a towel or umbrella, do not worry, there is probably one around you can rent. Myrtos Beach is a great place to just relax, take in some sun, and enjoy the great view. If you want, you can grab a cold drink near the beachfront, but this is usually a little more costly. You can always until you get back to the village to get a more reasonably priced refreshment option.

If you are into history or architecture, you can check out some Minoan ruins only about 2 miles from the beach. These are a popular tourist attraction. There are mountains close by as well, if you want a change of pace from water and sand.

Myrtos Beach can be approached by cars, taxis, bikes, and on foot. It offers much to do, including swimming, snorkeling, and sailing. Just lie down and take in some rays or get out there in the water.

The foreign visitors wanting to visit the UK from holiday the cost is often prohibitive, even for UK residents it is often cheaper to find a foreign package deal and disappear off on a plane a few weeks then is to stay in their own country. Often though one, of the areas that you can make the biggest savings in are the type of accommodation that you choose.

Staying in self catering accommodation means that you will pay in the week a fixed price which is not dependent on the number of people that you are taking with you. Self catering accommodation or also offers the advantage that you cook your own meals and this means that you can save money on eating out.

Not all self catering accommodation is the same and some of it can be extremely expensive. Luxurious holiday cottages in log cabins can cost in excess of £3000 on the week and this is certainly not a bargain. One of the cheapest types of self catering accommodation in the UK is the static caravan.

Static caravans are great for anybody looking for a budget holiday in the UK, many of the caravans offer excellent facilities such as a fully equipped kitchen complete with dishwasher, gas hob and electric oven and are often situated in beautiful areas.

Many of the holiday parks that static caravans are situated on have excellent on-site facilities such as swimming pools and adventure playgrounds so that everybody in your family will be kept entertained and happy. Many static caravans will also allow you to take pets so you can even save on paying expensive kennel fees.

The static caravan holidays directory as many cheap caravan holidays in the UK listed in it and is an ideal place to start looking for your break.

Rent a car in Copenhagen and have the freedom and ease in exploring this marvelous city. You will find a lot of castles, museums and scenic views at the palm of your hand. With a map and a couple of steers of the wheel you can enjoy the different tourist spots of Copenhagen at your own pace.

The easiest way to rent a car in Copenhagen is to avail of the different car rental services in advance. All you have to do is to research on car rental in Copenhagen and you will be presented with a lot of choices. The major car rental agencies here are Sixt, Budget, Europcar and avis. You can find them in the airport and in the center of the city.

The car rental agencies can be found in the corridor between Terminal 2 and 3 of the international airport. After gathering your baggage, turn to the left and walk further ahead. You will eventually see the car rental signs.

The domestic airports also have car rental agencies located in Terminal 1. These are Avis, Hertz and EuropCar. If you prefer another car rental agency, you can take a bus to Terminal 3 and look in to the other car rental agencies.

Comparing car rental rates is easy once you get your hands on the internet. You can just type in the duration where you will need a car rental and the availability of car rentals will appear on your screen. There are travel websites which will offer you great prices of car rentals, examples are
Expendia and TravelZoo. They also feature the best prices on accommodations and flight rates.

You can rent a car in cpenhagen with ease and enjoy the scenery that it has to offer to you. All you have to do is to arm yourself with a map, a driver’s license and good driving skills and you’re all set for a vacation to Copenhagen. Of course, it won’t hurt to get some car insurance. Just in case.

Find more articles from Harvin Gulfill on Car rental in Copenhagen. Here you can also find articles about Rent a car Copenhagen.

My wife and I ventured to the Italian for a fantastic Rome city break last summer and we had a fantastic time. I would like to tell you about it, dear reader.

We had arrived the previous evening and after a wild taxi drive to our hotel, our heads hit the pillow and we had a great night’s sleep. We woke the following morning to a light but tasty breakfast and some fantastic coffee. After that we were ready for the day.

Our first stop was the Vatican City and Saint Peter’s, the official residence of the Pope. Now I am not in the least bit religious, however one can’t help but be impressed by the scale and grandeur of the place. Indeed, it can take the breath away in this day and age so God only knows what it was like to pilgrims in days gone by. Mussolini practically flattened the surrounding area to make way for his grand boulevard before the second world war so it’s difficult to imagine how people would have perceived the Vatican in the olden days, but I guess we can only imagine.

So on to our next stop. The Trevi Fountain. We arrived mid afternoon and the place was absolutely thronging with tourists. I mentioned to my wife that we should do the typical thing and throw a coin into the fountain. It is said that whoever throws a coin into the fountain will one day returning to Rome. So we bustled through the crowds to the edge of the fountain. I turned my back to the fountain and threw my one euro coin into the fountain. Some would say a wast of money, but hey we got a great picture.

The fountain is a really nice place to while away a bit of time in Rome. I grabbed a beer from a nearby stall and enjoyed the hot Roman afternoon while watching the crazy tourists throwing their cash into the fountain.

For more city break guides, check out my reviews on Smashing Holidays.

The off-season is ‘off’ for a good reason: the weather. The weather in England can be cold, rainy, and even snowy, especially from November to March. So if you like a hot, dry climate or some winter sun, then a holiday in Devon in winter will not be a good choice for you. Some family tourist attractions, and some outdoor accommodation will be closed during winter. But if you can handle colder weather, and like bed and breakfasts or hotels, then England in the off-season can be a real bargain. The history, arts and culture aren’t going anywhere, and they’ll be a lot less crowded when you see them.

Avoid the Crowds

England in the summer season is crowded with not only Americans but families from all over Britain and Europe who take one or two weeks of vacation while the schools are out for summer. In the off season, you’ll find better availability of flights and hotels rooms, while London’s city streets and attractions are less crowded. So consider a London theatre break, a luxury country hotel or peaceful seaside winter breaks in Devon and the Westcountry.

Preparing and Packing for your Trip to England

You’ll need sensible shoes, lots of layers, a windproof raincoat and extra socks, plus a hat and gloves if you’re going in winter. If your sweater takes up too much room in your suitcase, there are airtight compression bags you can buy that will cut its size down by half when you vacuum or squash the air out. Bear in mind you’ll be bringing it back again, but you’ll probably wear it to your flight.

Keep your Plans Adaptable

It’s good to be prepared, but leave room to change your plans to take advantage of changeable weather. If it’s raining hard, it’s a good chance to go on a city bus tour, or take in some museums, cafes, theater and art galleries. If it’s a sunny day, that’s your best opportunity for walking around castle ramparts or taking an open deck boat trip. Remember that sometimes it is the unplanned moments and surprise discoveries that make the best memories, and you will have a great time on your vacation in England.

The main airport for Andalucía is the one in Malaga. Whilst many people simply pass through Malaga as they travel to their final destination in the South of Spain, though it may be that a stay in a hotel in Malaga may be just the thing that you are looking for to start your holiday in this fascinating area.

The cathedral, Museo Picasso and narrow streets are some of the main sights to see in the town. There are lots of hotels in Malaga to choose from for a short stay or a lengthier trip.

How to Get to Malaga
The busy airport of Malaga is just 7 kilometers from the centre of the town. Taxis to the centre from the airport should be around €15. You can use the very efficient Fuengirola to Malaga train that goes from the airport to the main station in Malaga twice an hour. The station itself is around twenty minutes walk from the historical centre.

Moving Around Malaga
Whilst Malaga is quite sprawling, the attractions and historical centre are confined to a relatively small area so you can walk between the sights. There are also the obligatory tourist horse and carts and open top buses should this be more your style.

When to Visit
With a very attractive climate, people flock to this region all year round. The winters are mild and the summers, whilst hot, are cooled by a sea breeze. With over 320 days of sunshine per year, you can see why people love to come here.

Hotel Malaga
The hotel range is constantly updating in fast flowing Malaga. There are hotels for all budgets. You’ll find plenty of hotels with popular ones including Hotel Monte Malaga, Hotel Zenit Malaga and Hotel Malaga Centro.

Make sure you look for the best holiday hotels and villas in Malaga. There are plenty of cheap hotels in Malaga and you’ll be sure to find a great place to experience a hotel Malaga style.

If you want to travel to Paris than there are a few things you need to know, and that is where you can find the best Paris hotel deals, restaurants and what parts of Paris is a must see. You also need to know what air carriers are the best to go through before traveling to Paris. Keep reading to find out the things you need to know before you go to the city of love.

If you are going to Italy, you need to consult Pete’s travel tales. With the variety of Italian accommodations available, it is easy to find whatever you are looking for in Italy. The hotels are generally located on a government based 5-star system which means you can get a good range of accommodation options and that too at agreeable price rates. The price that is paid depends on the star ratings of the hotel or resort.

If you go for a reservation in advance, it is likely that you will save on some money because the bookings will be done in advance. There are various kinds of accommodations available in Italy. You can find the following options when you visit Italy:

Albergo: This is the Italian word for hotel. You are likely to find ample albergos in Italy, especially in the tourist destinations. These are the usual chain hotels. The Hilton and Jolly are among the common ones. All of the main property brands like Marriott, Radisson and Ramada are present, which makes touring Italy hassle free.

Locanda: This is more of a rustic inn or country styled accommodation, especially around Venice.

Pensione: It is a small hotel or boarding, where according to the trends of the previous years, people used to share the bathroom and have 3 meals a day with family proprietors. Although this is a fast disappearing trend, there are still pensiones available if you look around.

Motel: Motels are highly popular and economical options and are located off the interstate.

Day Hotels: Also known as the alberghi diurni, the day hotels are located off the railway stations and come with shower facilities, hair dressers, restrooms, telephones etc, but without provisions of sleeping.

There are also the non traditional options for travelers going on a trip to Italy, and they can easily rent a villa or bed and breakfast inn.

Lanzarote is a fantastic place to visit at any time of the year. There are beaches, volcanoes and water sports amongst other things to do. In order to make the most of your time here, getting car hire in lanzarote can really help. With a hire car you have the freedom to explore the island at your own speed and you don’t have to squash on to tours with annoying people. Here are some of the frequent questions about car hire in lanzarote.

Where is best to pick up a hire car?
Most of the car hire providers are based at the airport. This means that there is more competition so you will be able to find the best deals here. However, you will always get the absolute best deal if you book in advance.

How do I find the best deals?
Fortunately these days you can book your car hire very easily in advance using the Internet. The Internet also allows you to easily search for the best deals so that you can get the best price for your circumstances. Make sure that you always check the terms and conditions of the hire as you want to make sure that you understand what you are getting and what you are covered for. Remember no two car hire places offer exactly the same inclusions in the hire.

Do I really need car hire?
Many people find that car hire is actually cheaper than getting a taxi too and from the airport. This also has the added bonus that you will have your car hire for the duration of your trip, so you will be able to go off and explore the island under your own steam.

As you can see, it is well worth getting car hire while you are in Lanzarote so that you can make the most of your holiday, and it is easy to find the best deals and pick up a car when you arrive.