Explore the Beauty of Germany...

Germany has the distinction of having some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Europe, while at the same time being host to one of the most disruptive and troubled histories. The people of Germany are an innovative lot, constantly struggling to rise above, and their country has emerged from its history of division and tyranny to become of the most economically stable countries in the world, as well as providing some of the best engineering on the planet. From Audis to Beethoven, Lager and Oktoberfest, Germany has much to offer the world.

Travel here is easy. No visa is required, just your passport. Accommodation is plentiful, all over the country, and travel is a cinch. This is a Western nation, civilized just as much as home.

Germany’s history has left the country with a rich tapestry of cultural and historical relics that are a patchwork of uniqueness. From the days of the Celts and Germanic tribes to the Roman Empire, and then onwards under the various monarchies since, this country has been built upon layer after layer of cultures, building outwards and upwards like an onion, with a countless number of layers to choose from.

From the infamous Berlin Wall to the Bavarian city of Munich, to The Black Forest, to Hamburg and beyond, Germany is a star-studded location to spend your European holiday. You can come here simply to see medieval castles and the great wooded slopes of the mountains or you can experience the chaotic revelry of Oktoberfest, but regardless of the reasons, Germany will leave you satisfied at the end.

Soak Up the Sun in Barbados...

Another of the most popular Caribbean destination is the island nation of Barbados. This Caribbean destination is home to some of the most famous beach resorts in the world, and features hundreds of secluded coves, sandy beaches, and that famous crystal-clear Caribbean water.  Enjoy a luxury stay at one of the many resorts, or secure your own private beach house for a tropical getaway. Sail the seas in a private ship rented just for you, or tour along with other travellers just like yourself.

Getting to Barbados is relatively easy. You will need your passport, valid for the duration of your stay, and you will need to provide your return ticket in order to gain entry. Again, traveller’s insurance is recommended, just in case. A visa is not required so long as you are only staying for a vacation.

Barbados is an island that is full of tradition. The boutiques and department stores lining Broad Street in Bridgetown are some of the most famous in the world amongst well-travelled shoppers. And the coastlines of Barbados are without peer. Enjoy the soft, white sands along Batt’s Rock, Carlisle Bay, or go wind-surfing off of Silver Sands Beach. Or enjoy the rocky elegance of the eastern coast of Barbados, where the Atlantic coastline surges with rugged waves and fantastic rock formations.

If you are arriving via a cruise, the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal is a state-of-the-art port with plenty of shops and tour desks that can help you arrange your island-wide travels with as little effort as possible on your part, with the end result that you can enjoy your Caribbean holiday without having to sweat the little things. Indulge yourself!

Off the Beaten Path: Parque Nacional Tayrona...

Along with visiting Cartagena, the beautiful port city of Columbia, a destination that you might not have considered due to its remoteness is the Parque Nacional Tayrona, one of Columbia’s best and most beautiful national parks.

This is not a trip for the average tourist. It will require an adventuresome spirit and the ability to be flexible about travel arrangements because out here in the jungle, things don’t always work on a guaranteed schedule.

Your base of operations will be Santa Marta, which is a town that has plenty of hotels and accommodation to suit your needs. From here you can hire guides, find out the local backpacking trails, and schedule your Park exploration. Or if scuba diving and snorkelling is your cup of tea, the beaches within Tayrona are probably some of Columbia’s most beautiful. You will need to bring your own gear from Santa Marta as there is no place to rent equipment within the park.

But there are also plenty of ruins from the indigenous tribes of yore, and a veritable tapestry of wildlife and geographical wonders to capture your eye. The park ranges from arid, dry hills to sandy beaches to lush, tropical jungle.

Santa Marta is a tourist destination, and there are plenty of buses to take you out into the park, or you can catch a jeep ride or a boat. You can ask at the local tourist office or your hotel to find more information on the easiest way to get around the park.

This adventure in South America is something that will likely have you looking back in both awe and amazement for years.

Southampton Offers Cruises and Car Hire...

Southampton is one of the largest commercial ports in Europe and the home port for a number of cruise lines. Thousands of passengers arrive and depart from the port annually. Princess Cruises is very popular because the line is family friendly and includes food, non-alcoholic beverages and activities in the price of the cruise.

Southampton is a port of call for Princess Cruises. Cruisers can pick up or leave cars at the car hire centre or car park. The West Quay Shopping Complex located a couple of kilometres from the harbour draws many passengers from Princess Cruises. Cruise passengers sometimes add one or more nights at the beginning or the end of a cruise. Princess Cruises’ staff arrange for overnight accommodation, handle all transfers, luggage and car hire for these passengers.

The Southampton Port provides cafes, bars and vending machines in the departure and arrival lounges of the terminal. Plan and book your cruises and arrange for car hire if you will need to drive to Southampton Port for your holiday cruise aboard Princess Cruises. The port provides a car park and car hire for cruise passengers embarking and disembarking from Southampton Port.

One of the 2010 Princess Cruises includes Zeebrugge, Belgium; Copenhagen, Denmark; Helsingborg, Sweden and Oslo Norway. UK citizens will not need a valid, machine-readable passport for Denmark, Sweden and Norway, but may need a visa for Belgium. Check with Princess Cruise Lines when you schedule your cruise or call the local Belgium visa office.

The Mountains of Bulgaria: A Unique Cultural Exper...

The best way to experience the warmth and culture that makes Bulgaria such a wonderful vacation spot in Europe is by spending time in any of the mountain villages and cities where culture still makes up a large portion of everyday life.

The Balkan Mountains are a wide region that spreads across the country from the east to west. To the south, the Rhodope Mountains make up the border with Greece. In fact, more than half of this country is made up of mountains, and the beauty is inescapable. To the west are the Rila and Pirin Mountains, with the Rila being the highest and most majestic, as well as housing the country’s famous monastery at Rila, as well as the Borovets Ski Resort, one of the oldest in the country.

Pamporovo is settled in the southern part of the Rhodope Mountains, and is the largest ski resort, as well as a great way to experience not only amazing ski conditions but the culture and folklore surrounding the town of Momchilovtsi, one of the more eco-friendly tourist destinations in the country.

You can visit the Pirin National Park, which is in arguably the most beautiful of the Bulgarian mountain ranges, or visit the volcanic mountain of Vitosha, rising above the sprawling capital city of Sofia.

Bulgaria is a country that boasts an extremely warm culture and friendly atmosphere. Dinners at restaurants are not simple undertakings. These are huge feasts where you might not know even a single person at the table but will nonetheless be greeted with a huge bear hug, a glass of rakia (the local fire water, grape brandy), and a hearty meal of cheeses, meats, breads, and more.

Buenos Aires: The Argentinean Experience...

Argentina is one of the more famous destinations within the South American continent, and for a variety of reasons. Argentinean soccer, their world-famous beef, Mendoza wine country, Tierra del Fuego, the ice fields of Patagonia … these are just a few of the things that draw travellers in from around the globe.

British citizens do not need a visa to travel to Argentina, so long as your reasons are purely for tourism. You can come here on a passport for a stay of up to 90 days.

If this is your first time to Argentina, your first stop should be Buenos Aires, the country’s capital city. This vibrant city takes you back to the roots of its European heritage, and overflows with an energy that will literally take your breath away. This is absolutely a city of experiences, from taking in a soccer game, to sinking your teeth into a succulent Argentinean steak along with a bottle of your favourite wine, or taking tango lessons.

The city is a prime destination for any trip to South America. If you spend any amount of time here you will quickly find that there is a lot more than what appears on the surface. There are outdoor markets that can satisfy the needs of even the most neurotic of souvenir shoppers, and the bohemian atmosphere that permeates the plethora of old-world cafes all come together to give Buenos Aires the perfect blend of old-world appeal with contemporary modern flexibility, making this a unique cultural experience that should not be missed. 

Living and working in Canada...

In today’s economic climate, some people are considering moving to a different city, state or even country in the hope that life might be better for them there. Working in Canada is a possible solution for skilled workers willing to move in Canada for one or more years. Canada enjoys one of the most stable economies today and offers a working visa to people willing to work as skilled workers, entrepreneurs and business owners.

Living and working in Canada offers some people a chance to start over and build a stable life for their families. Work in Canada is possible through several programmes offering permanent or temporary work. Residents of the UK can visit in Canada up to six months with only a passport.

Seeking work in Canada is not the only reason to travel to this exciting and beautiful country. Prince Edward Island, Ottawa, Ontario, the capitol city; Kelowna, British Columbia, Churchill, Manitoba, Vancouver, British Columbia, Niagara Falls, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec are only some of the great holiday destinations in Canada. There are many travel locations throughout Canada.

Canada welcomes workers possessing a valid passport and Canadian working visa. Canada offers a stable economy, magnificent landscapes and life changing experiences for immigrants, visitors, skilled workers and students.

US Virgin Islands – a taste of paradise...

Should your Caribbean destination include a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

As citizens of the UK, you are included in the visa waiver program, which stipulates you do not need a visa to visit the U.S. or its territories for a period of less than 90 days. However, you still need to apply online via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) in order to be authorized for travel. Once you have filled out the form you will be issued an e-passport, which in essence is just a glorified visa.

Still, it is a relatively simple and quick process and you should quickly find yourself on your way to the beautiful locations of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Made up of three islands – St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John – these three locations each have unique characteristics that make them a favourite among tourists.

St. Croix is more of a historic and architectural traveller’s dream, with plenty of quaint shops tucked away in picturesque villages that hearken back to the colonial days. St. Thomas is the most popular cruise port within the Caribbean, and a busier harbour you will not find. St. John is perhaps the most beautiful of the three, with a full two-thirds of the island being made up of a U.S. National Park. The hiking trails and beaches here are unparalleled in their majestic beauty.

Accommodation is plentiful on the two main islands, with luxury hotels making your Caribbean holiday nothing short of perfect.

Organising Flights for a Caribbean Cruise...

There are offers for Caribbean cruises from Southampton Port by several cruise lines, and some include flights to Southampton. However this is not always the best offer unless you are among the elite who can afford ‘cruise-airline flights all inclusive offers’ which do not include taxes, surcharges, port fees or other hidden fees.

People living in the UK can drive or travel by rail to Southampton Port cheaper than by purchasing a package offering a ‘cruise and airfare all-inclusive package’. You can find much cheaper flights by doing a little research. Organising flights from cities within the UK, cruisers can schedule the cheapest round trip flights to and from Southampton. By organizing flights, you can plan a holiday in Southampton before boarding or upon returning from your Caribbean cruise.

Caribbean cruises are among the most popular cruises offered today, however a word of caution is worth noting. The terms ‘all included’ or ‘all inclusive’ are terms which require scrutiny as so often these are misleading terms used as a marketing hook. Keep in mind the cost of a cruise/air flight or tour package does not cover the real cost. Keep in mind amenities onboard are rarely free of some charge. The secret to getting the most from Caribbean cruises is to always keep the question: ‘what is the total real cost?’ in mind.

Experience the Majesty of Versailles...

One of the must-see sights while in Europe is the Chateau de Versailles in France. Roughly 24km south of Paris, this is one of France’s most popular tourist destinations.

The Palace of Versailles was built between 1664 and 1715 by Louis XIV, called the Sun King. Many of you probably remember the history lessons, so it’s not important to delve into the details of the how and why of it all. What is important is that this is quite possibly the most lavish and grand palace ever built in the entire world, and it is specifically due to that extravagance that this is such a particularly splendid place to visit on any trip to France.

The Palace is open year-round, only being closed on Mondays. Getting here is simply a matter of taking a short bus ride, train trip, or the metro. Alternatively you can drive yourself, but it’s probably easiest just to take public transportation.

The Notre Dame Church is also located here in the town centre of Versailles, giving visitors even more historically significant sights to experience. However, the majority of your time will be spent perusing the halls of the great Palace itself which, while it can be done in a day, is really worth spending two or three to simply soak it all in.

The area is still an important administrative and judicial centre, but the seat of power has long since been removed from the Palace. These days she is nothing more than a tourist destination, but what a destination! This is absolutely one of the most magnificent sights in all of Europe, and a must-see for any visitor to Paris.