Travelling to Moscow – finding cheap flights...

Start looking for a cheap flight to Moscow now, as springtime or autumn is the best season to visit the city. The weather can be sunny and warm, but is not too hot for exploring in comfort.

When anyone thinks of Moscow, they immediately picture the Kremlin and Red Square, iconic symbols of both the Soviet Union and the more recent Russian Federation.  But Moscow has many other attractions for the visitor.  There are many museums and places of interest, the Botanical Gardens, the State Tretyakov Museum and of course the famous Gorky Park.

There are dozens of hotels, since the fall of Communism; all the major chains have opened a hotel in the city.  The tourist can choose from a luxury, four-star hotel or one that is priced at the budget end of the market.  Restaurants are international as all major cities of the world are, so you can drink milkshake at an American diner or dine on tomatoes and mozzarella pizza at an Italian restaurant.

Flying to Moscow is cheap and easy with dozens of flights leaving the UK daily.  All of the European carriers fly into one of Moscow’s two international airports, although mainland operators, except Aeroflot, have a stopover.

Flights from the UK operate out of London Heathrow and London City.    Flights from London Heathrow on British Airway, Bmi and Aeroflot are direct flights, while those from London City require a stopover.

Cruise to Istanbul...

Istanbul, an ancient city that is on two continents, is a must-see on any cruise to the area.  With Asia to its east and Europe to its west, this city has always been a melting pot, as any visit here will prove.

Ottomans, Byzantines and Romans, among others, have called this Mediterranean city home.  Roman ruins still exist here, and the locals pass them by as if they’re nothing special.  You’ll hear a mix of languages, though Turkish is the primary one.  However, enough English is spoken at major tourist spots that you should have few problems.

Be aware that Turkey is a very respectful country, and it’s advisable for men to wear long pants or slacks and women to wear long skirts.  Women should also bring a scarf to cover their heads so as not to be slowed down if deciding to enter one of the gorgeous mosques, synagogues or churches.

Be sure to visit Istanbul’s signature Hagia Sophia, a church, museum and mosaics gallery all in one.  Stunningly beautiful, the Byzantine architecture and mosaic art will astound you.  If the city hasn’t shown you enough ‘bling’, then spend an hour or two in Topkapi Palace, where ancient manuscripts, silken robes and huge jewels are on display.

The Blue Mosque is another not-to-be-missed destination, with its massive dome and ancient architecture.  A carpet museum is also inside, giving you a glimpse of styles old and new.  Rarely do people leave here without a desire to purchase a rug at one of the bazaars on the way back to their ship. Just be aware that vendors customarily offer shoppers a cup of tea; it’s bad form to refuse unless you’re just casually looking.

A day spent in Istanbul is an eye-opening, wonderful experience that shouldn’t be missed for the world.  

Jazz in New Orleans...

New Orleans is the French city in the middle of the southern United States. A city renowned for its mellow sounds, cool jazz bars, entertaining street parades and famous musicians New Orleans is a place of contrasts, hot spicy foods, a multitude of religious experiences and, behind it all, the lively sounds of music.

Its eclectic sense of self is not just found in its food and music but also in its entertainment; the Zombie House of Voodoo and Madam Conti Wax Works are there to be explored. The steady journey of the brightly painted flat topped paddle steamers as they cruise the Mississippi, as well as the effervescent scenes to be found during Carnival week are all the typical images of New Orleans.

The ideal way to take in all these combinations of sights, sounds and tastes is to take an extended holiday; a villa rental will give you the freedom to come and go as you wish, prepare your own meals or eat out and include the whole family or enough friends to make the cost worthwhile.  There are many traditional buckboard fronted houses or apartments to rent that will prove to be sufficient to most needs.

You don’t have to try Cajun life over a hectic weekend, but can immerse yourself in its rhythm and pace over time. Experience the colourful and vibrant French quarter, taking some of the many themed tours, or just sit back and soak up the smooth jazz beats.

Flights back on after volcano eruption – delays ...

Flights to and within Europe began to fly late last night after being grounded for six days due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland. The eruption sent a vast amount of ash into the atmosphere along with debris which posed a threat to aircrafts engines grounding flights.

The flights are back on after safety tests conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority concluded it was safe to fly, but with over 95,000 cancelled flights throughout Europe over the past week, huge delays and backlogs are expected as holiday makers try to get home. BMI has announced that its international and domestic flights from Heathrow will begin today, although it is best to check the flight status before setting off to the airport as delays are possible.

It is estimated that around 150,000 Britons have be left stranded abroad during the six day grounding as well as thousands more trying to leave the UK. Football teams have also be disrupted with both Liverpool and Fulham travelling by coach to their respective Europa League semi-final matches.

Although the short-term delays are set to continue, the airlines are confident to be on track sooner than later, with summer flights to Berlin and other European destinations expected to run as normal.

BAA has stated that people booked onto flights over the next week should contact their airlines directly before travelling to an airport for their flights.

Ski Les Arcs...

Always popular with skiers, Les Arcs never disappoints not surprisingly as it is one of the biggest in the world with excellent terrain and a huge vertical. Les Arcs is a fantastic place to source a ski holiday and with the snow being as good as ever some great ski deals are on offer now for that holiday this summer. The ski area takes in glacier skiing, wooded slopes and above tree-line bowls – in short pretty well all imaginable conditions. Much of the terrain is long fast motorway cruising, although there is more variety than at many comparable resorts. Experts have plenty to keep them happy including extensive off-piste terrain. The legendary 7km (4.5) mile long black from the top of the Aiguille Rouge down to Villaroger is one of the world’s longest and covers the world’s biggest vertical for a run of this grading, a full 2000 metres. You can as part of your ski deal get a ski pass that covers the famous Paradiski area and for this you would take the famous Vanoise Express cable car, which departs from Peisey Vallandry, takes 200 people at a time (120 on the lower deck, 80 on the upper one) over to La Plagne.

Les Arcs is not just for skiers of course, it claims to be the home of snowboarding and certainly some people were sliding around on the slopes here on something very similar to a snowboard a few years before Jake Burton hit the headlines in the early ’80s. Some of the famous ‘Apocalypse Snow’ movies that first popularised the sport were initiated here. The resort is very ‘boarder friendly with a combination of value accommodation, great terrain for all styles and abilities and as many chairs and gondolas as surface lifts.

There is après ski at Les Arcs, but in common with most French purpose built ski centres in not having a particularly strong après ski reputation, after all nothing compares with Austria in this respect. However Arc 1800 is the place where most of it happens with great apartment parties, with the  hotel du Golf piano bar, and at Arc 2000 there’s another night club, KL92 but the Red Rock Cafe is perhaps more the focus of evening activities, serving a good choice of cocktails and with live music often performed.

How a Winter Cruise can cure the Blues...

A cruise is the perfect antidote to the winter blues, when the thought of visiting exotic destinations and being royally pampered is really enticing, with the British summer being still far off. Cruises range from a few days at sea to epic voyages lasting months. Bearing in mind the limitations of time and budgets, here are a few ideas for winter cruises.

For a big budget extravaganza, a cruise around the Caribbean Islands, the coast of South America or the Red Sea is perfect for lifting the spirits with some winter sunshine. With these holidays you fly out to meet the ship and fly home at the end of the break. With prices from £800 per person for a seven day Red Sea cruise; rising to around £5,000 for a South American extravaganza, you will get to visit several amazing destinations with non-stop catering and onboard entertainment included.

If you would prefer to see the breathtaking scenery of Scandinavia and Iceland, then a cruise around the fjords might appeal. Breathtaking ice cliffs, ancient Viking settlements, fantastic wildlife and spectacular waterfalls are what make these trips unforgettable. Costs are similar to sunshine cruises.

With a limited budget you can still find winter cruise deals to give you a really memorable break. There are often big discounts on late bookings, although you run the risk of missing out if the trip is popular. Why not cruise around the hotspots of the Mediterranean Sea, visit the sun soaked Canary Islands or take in the cultural sites of Turkey, Israel and Egypt.

Turkish city guides – Ankara...

Climbing the rather steep incline as you climb above the Enguri Su river banks, you arrive in the city of Ankara, the capital and second largest city in Turkey.  Despite its advancements and economic modernization which has occurred over the past few decades, Ankara is still dotted with the reminders of its former history.  Ankara today is comprised of a bustling nightlife, international consulates, government and state structures, numerous military bases, and colleges like any other metropolitan area.

On the other hand, there are many structures to remind you of Ankara’s place in ancient and recent history.  Roman, Phrygian, Ottoman, Hittite, Hellenistic, and Byzantine castles and other historical ruins from each of these civilizations still adorn the countryside and surrounding landscape.  You can be sure that the city of Ankara still holds a prominent place in Turkey’s history.  There is something to excite and please every international visitor.

Being the 2nd largest city in Turkey (Istanbul is the largest), there is much to see and do there.  Additionally, choosing from the wide array of lodging facilities is no easy task.  Ankara has its share of apartments, luxury hotels, and other facilities to satisfy nearly every holiday requirement.  With some thorough research, you will be able to find one that will satisfy your holiday needs.  Another key factor that has contributed to Ankara’s recent economic success is the fact that the city is reaching out to many international property investors who have deep pockets and are willing to invest in better living facilities for locals and tourists alike.

Flying to Glasgow is cheap and easy!...

Being the third largest city in the UK, Glasgow has become an important port of call for Scotland and the north of England. This captivating and vibrant city has earned a reputation as a go-to destination for weekend breaks and is a sought after spot for fans of history and culture. Glasgow is also a popular base for exploring the Scottish coast and countryside.

Flights to Glasgow operate daily from numerous destinations across the world. The city is served by Glasgow International Airport, which is just 14 kilometres from the city centre and is easily accessible via bus from there. Also just a short distance from the city is Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, which is a hub for European budget airlines. Cheap flights operate daily from Prestwick to cities such as Dublin, Paris and numerous locations in Eastern Europe. Flights to London are also regular from both airports, while further afield destinations such as New York and Dubai are provided from Glasgow International.

The growth in budget airline travel and cheap flights means that the growth in Glasgow’s tourism trade has turned the city into a vibrant hub of activity. Not only is it a popular destination for football fans visiting to see derby games between Rangers and Celtic, but recently, Glasgow has been put on the cultural map, being named as a UNESCO City of Music – and entertains countless culture enthusiasts.

Accommodation available in the city is also varied, from international four star hotels to budget hostels, so there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Discover India’s hidden secrets – skiing holid...

India may not be the first destination to come to mind when considering a ski holiday, but the hills of India have all the necessary ingredients for adventurous ski holidays. Towering peaks, snow-capped mountains, unexplored valleys and glaciers make for a thrilling holiday. With their virgin snow and superb combination of fauna and flora the hills of India can offer the skier an unforgettable holiday. Recognising the potential for tourism India has invested in creating ski resorts that whilst being modern, still represent good value for money.

Gulmarg is Kashmir’s premier upland hill resort and is located at an altitude of 2,730 metres. It has the largest and best equipped winter sports facilities in India. The snow conditions at the resort are excellent between the months of December to April. Ski lifts, T-bars, chair-cars and rope-ways are inbuilt and skating and heli-skiing are also available. The Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering is located at the resort and it offers courses for those who need tuition.

During the winter months the large slopes of Garhwal and Kumaon are covered in snow and become ideal for skiing. Ski touring amongst the magnificent glaciers is also on offer.

Auli in Garhwal Himalayas in Uttaranchal is another major skiing resort. It has beautiful pine forests and lovely snowy slopes which overlook the towering Himalayan peaks of Mana Parbat, Kamet, Nanda Devi and Duragiri.

Other good ski destinations are Manali, Kufri and Narkanda. The Manali region in Himachal Pradesh offers skiing opportunities both in the winter and the summer, although the latter are limited. Kufri is a favourite amongst skiers who visit Shimla in the winter.

Planning a Ski Group Holiday...

Group skiing holidays makes saving money easy, but there are many things to consider when planning a group skiing holiday apart from when and where. It is also important to think of the needs of the individuals that make the group.

What if everyone is coming from different parts of the world? A good travel agency with group experience should be able to help find the fastest, most economical route to allow the group to get together.

How experienced are the skiers? A group could have skiers with a range of experience from beginner to expert. Some may like to ski on piste while others prefer off-piste skiing. Finding a resort to cater to everyone is important. From Val Thorens in France to Winter Park in Colorado, mixed-ability ski resorts are plentiful.

What about après ski? When it is time to put the skis away, what happens next? More often than not, a group will stick together at this time, but that does not mean that some people may want a quiet meal in a cosy restaurant and leave partying in the disco to the rest.

Type of accommodation – Typically speaking, ski chalets come in all sizes and budgets to fit almost any group size. Ski in/ski out is popular for groups wanting to spend as much time skiing as possible without worrying about commuting back and forth from their lodgings. Luxury chalets can have private chauffeurs and indoor swimming pools, and when the cost is divided over a number of people, the cost of luxury becomes very affordable.