A Travel Guide for Whatever Country You Choose...

One of the most well known travel guides available is the Lonely Planet. The Lonely Planet was started around 30 years ago by a couple that wanted to travel across Europe and Asia down to Australia. They did it and had quite an adventure in the process. After hearing their amazing story, their friends encouraged them to write about it. Just a week after they had it published, they had sold over 1500 copies — Lonely Planet was created. The popularity of the book led to many more trips and many more guidebooks.

As a result, Lonely Planet is now a globally recognised brand with its main objective focused on providing firsthand accounts of all locations. Their key philosophy is: “All you’ve got to do is decide to go and the hardest part is over. So go!” The authors make a real effort to not only go to the popular, tourist sites but to also search out local secrets. They write in a down to earth, easy to read style that shares the history of a location and its present activities in various areas, including dining, nightlife, cultural events and more.

Today there are more than 500 staff members and 300 authors, with offices throughout the world. Chances are if you want to go somewhere, there is a Lonely Planet guidebook on your destination of choice, which has an ample amount of detailed, helpful information.

City Guide to Paris...

The largest city in France, Paris is the one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world, receiving around 45 million tourists each year. Known as “the City of Love”, Paris is the perfect holiday destination for couples seeking a romantic break and also offers plenty of fascinating attractions for those who love exploring.

Paris has many popular landmarks, the most famous being the Eiffel Tower. Constructed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower receives more visitors than any other monument in the world. In addition to providing stunning views of the city, the tower also has two restaurants.

Those interested in exploring the history of Paris and France may wish to visit Place de la Bastille, a district that was previously the home of the Bastille Prison. The prison was attacked in 1789, an event known as “the storming of the Bastille”, marking the beginning of the French Revolution. Today, the area contains a harbour and is the location of the L’Opéra Bastille, an opera house.

In addition to Place de la Bastille, Paris offers many historic areas. The history of Paris and France can also be explored in a number of museums, the most popular being the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), also known as the National Museum of Natural History. The museum offers a wide variety of art galleries and artefacts, making it the ideal attraction for those wishing to learn about the history of Paris and France.

Paris offers a thriving nightlife. There are a variety of bars, clubs and venues offering live music. The city is also known for its wide selection of theatres and opera houses. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to choose from, most of which offer French and English cuisine.

Whether you are looking for a romantic break or a destination that has a strong history and plenty of culture to explore, Paris is sure to be the ideal destination.

Holiday Apartment and Villa Rentals in Spain...

Spain is one of the most popular destinations for apartment and villa rentals. Holiday apartments and villas in Spain are available in a wide variety of sizes, some of which sleep up to seven people. Spain’s luxurious apartments are ideal for those looking for self-catering accommodation that is suitable for families.

One of the most popular locations for renting out holiday apartments in Spain is Barcelona. Barcelona is also an ideal location for those looking for holiday apartments for sale. There are a wide variety of fascinating medieval villages in the area, making it ideal for those who love sightseeing.

Spain’s apartments offer everything you need to make your holiday enjoyable. With spacious bedrooms and a cosy living area, these apartments are the perfect choice for those looking for plenty of luxury and comfort. You will also be able to keep in touch with friends and family back at home, as the majority of Spain’s apartments are equipped with Wi-Fi.

Another popular location for holiday rentals in Spain is the city of Marbella. Marbella offers a wide variety of luxurious apartments, each equipped with a fully fitted kitchen, furniture, sun loungers, air conditioning and internet access. In addition to these stunning villas, Marbella also offers a variety of beautiful beaches and gorgeous scenery, making it the perfect holiday destination.

Whether you are wishing to take a short break or looking to buy a holiday home, you are sure to find everything you need in Spain’s luxury apartments and villas.

Experiencing Beirut...

Beirut is the capital city and the largest city in Lebanon. A popular way to get a feel for the city of Beirut is to take a guided walking tour of the neighbourhoods of West Beirut.  The guides provide visitors with a great deal of the history of the city through story telling.  Another interesting attraction is the Jeita Grotto which is an underground cavern which can be explored on foot or by boat.  The attraction is typically busy on the weekend so it is better to visit on other days of the week.  To the northeast of Beirut are the ruins of the Roman temple complex of Baalbek.  The temples were built to honour the gods Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. Another impressive sight in Beirut is the Churches of Harissa.  Visitors can enjoy incredible views of the city and Jounieh Bay and see Our Lady of Lebanon, which is a 15-ton statue of the Virgin Mary. 

Beirut has several museums which can be enjoyed by visitors.  One of the historical museums is the National Museum which has over 1,300 ancient artefacts on display.  Some of the artefacts are more than 3000 years old. The Sursock Museum features displays of Japanese and Islamic art.  Beirut also has a science museum in Planet Discovery which is great for children. 

Flights to Beirut are available from many airports in the United Kingdom.  Those interested in travelling to the Middle East can search for cheap tickets using an online search engine.

Tel Aviv – The White City...

For a first time visitor, Tel Aviv may come as a wonderful surprise. Instead of plodding camels and ancient ruins, they will find a contemporary Mediterranean metropolis filled with culture, boutiques, chic cafes and a busy nightlife.  A long kept secret of jet-setters, Tel Aviv is an edgier destination than the tourist traps along the Mediterranean basin.

Tel Aviv began as a sleepy little town settled in 1909 by Zionist pioneers, and was a source of Levantine, Oriental and Central European influences with haphazard streets. In the 1920’s Jaffa’s commercial centre moved to Tel Aviv and the city planners laid out a new street grid to modernize the city.

Tel Aviv is filled with life, from the seductive creativity pouring into its arts and theatres, to the laughter that spills out from the sidewalk cafes, and the non-stop party atmosphere of the summer months. The nightlife is vigorous and can even include dancing on the bars themselves.

The greatest architectural influence came from the German Jews who migrated to Tel Aviv during World War II. These architects were trained in the Bauhaus International or Modern style, and this style is reflected all over the city today.

Tel Aviv is the home of the symphony orchestra of Zubin Mehta, along with many art galleries, theatres and an opera house. The city boasts open air minstrels, poetry readings, experimental theatres, avant garde jazz performances and galley exhibitions.

The sun is usually shining in Tel Aviv, but the summers can be hot and humid. Visit in the spring when the days are warm enough for the beach and the nights are cool enough for a sweater.

Cheap flights to Tel Aviv are available from most international airports.

City travel guides – Paris...

Hailed as the most romantic city in Europe, Paris, but more specifically the image of the skyline at sunset with the iconic silhouetted Eiffel Tower, has almost become a lovers’ cliché. A favoured destination for honeymooners and culture vultures alike, France’s atmospheric capital is also one of the most popular hotspots for marriage proposals. Paris has three airports, all owned and managed by Aéroports de Paris. The largest of these is Charles de Gaulle (or Roissy) airport, which handled almost 58 million passengers in 2009.

Located on the River Seine in northern France, Paris has a thriving population and is a popular business destination, as well as being the city widely associated with love and leisure. It is, in fact, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, and the underground Metro and overground tramway trains are constantly packed full of travelers. It also has a bike-sharing system to encourage natives and tourists alike to take in the sights and sounds of the city without adding to the pollution. Paris is steeped in history and offers a wealth of attractions, such as the shopper’s paradise Champs-Elysées, the medieval Notre Dame cathedral, city hall Hotel de Ville, classical museum the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe – and of course the towering steel girders of its famed Eiffel Tower. For visitors hungry for a taste of the arts, the nightlife and cultural buzz of Paris is world-renowned. It has numerous opulent opera houses, including Opera Garnier and Opera Bastille.

Paris is also home to some spectacular performance productions (think the decadent Moulin Rouge), and at night the streets are alive with sound and activity from the bright, bustling music, theatre and concert halls. There are hundreds of café bars and restaurants, so whatever your preferred dining experience and culinary tastes, Paris has something to suit your palate and your pocket. Although it is certainly possible to enjoy Paris on a shoestring budget, there is a lot to be said to splashing the cash. From cheap and cheerful lodges and rented apartments on the city outskirts to grandiose hotel rooms with the best of Paris right outside your penthouse window, there is accommodation for everyone. But at the end of a busy day of sight-seeing, dig deep for a fistful of Euros because it is worth forking out for an overnight stay in one of Paris’s most luxurious hotels. These include the Meurice and the achingly hip Amour – the only place to be if you are an artist, rock star or thespian wanting to show your lover just how much you care.

A guide to travelling to Venice...

Venice is a well known city in northern Italy. It is the capital of the Venetto region and has a population of around 300,000 people. Venice is famous for being a city of water: it is built on over 100 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon which flows into the Adriatic Sea.

There are two airports serving Venice: the Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo as well as Treviso Airport. The former is the closest to the city, popular with many taking flights to Venice from abroad or from within Italy itself. The airport is relatively new, having been built at a further distance from the coast. Transport from the airport to Venice is typically by so called water taxis and water buses. Flights to Venice that land at Treviso Airport require more patience from travellers, as Treviso is some 30 kilometres from Venice.

Travel to and from Venice is mostly by water directly around the city, although there are domestic train services and roads that can take travellers to within a short distance. Venice itself has footpaths, lanes or canals, with few car journeys possible.

The main attraction of Venice is its rich history, cultural and architectural wealth and sunny climate. World famous sights include St Marks Basilica, the Grand Canal and the Piazzo San Marco. The city has many museums, palaces, churches, opera houses, architecturally significant bridges and private villas. Although renowned for its classical music, especially opera, modern music is prevalent in nightclubs and restaurants.

City Guides – Toronto...

You may technically be in Canada when you visit Toronto, but it’s a city which is quite possibly the most successful melting pot of different cultures in the country. Separated from New York State by the vast Lake Ontario, this city seems less purist than the rest of the country in keeping the influence of the Americans at bay – or that of many other cultures, for that matter. In Toronto, you can eat like a New Yorker for breakfast, enjoy a Korean walnut cake with an Italian espresso for a mid-day snack, and dine out in the evening on any cuisine you could imagine: Chinese, Indian, or Malaysian – you name it, Toronto’s got it. Previous waves of immigration from the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and the USA itself has made Toronto the relaxed and vibrant multicultural city you’ll discover today.

It’s also a veritable paradise for shopaholics, with glittering malls, markets, boutiques and galleries galore (the Square One Shopping Centre in the city’s largest mall, with over 360 shops, more than 40 places to eat and four massive departments stores). Don’t forget to take in the infamous CN Tower for some jaw-dropping (and slightly hysteria-inducing) overviews of the city. If you’d like to get away from the rumble of the city itself, a day trip will take you to the breathtaking Niagara Falls, or you could simply mosey (or whatever the Canadian equivalent is) out to the lush ravines on the outskirts.

Unpretentious, easy-going and full of verve and energy, Toronto is a city you’ll be fondly savouring long after your stay has ended.

Flying to Belfast for a long weekend...

With cheap flights to Dublin and flights to Belfast so convenient these days, now is a great time to take a break in the Emerald Isle and experience some of Ireland’s great attractions.

Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland, is putting all its energies into attracting more tourists following the Troubles, and it certainly has plenty to offer.

Belfast’s charms, and the core of its attraction, lie in its rich Victorian and Edwardian heritage. Many of the surviving buildings from those times have been converted into beautiful galleries and museums housing international collections, whilst others have transformed themselves into trendy bars, cafes and restaurants.

Belfast is becoming increasingly popular across Europe and Britain as an ideal city break destination, as visitors are being lured back to an important and vibrant city that is just emerging from years of civil unrest and still bears the scars of the Troubles. The people are lively and friendly, and know that they are helping build a brighter future.

Belfast has a central place in Irish history, and anyone coming here will enjoy an increased understanding of Ireland and its history as well as enjoying its shopping and vibrant night life.

The city’s pivotal role in shipbuilding and intimate relationship with the sea is exemplified by the huge dry dock, the biggest of its kind in the world, and the Waterfront Complex with its numerous pubs and shops. The Titanic passenger liner was built here, but hopefully Belfast’s troubles and disasters are finally at an end.

Understanding Bari...

Traditionally Bari has been better known as an exit destination from Italy rather than a tourist destination, but this is an image the city officials have been trying to shed for the past couple of decades, and their perseverance has slowly been paying off. In recent years this coastal city has begun filling with tourists looking not only to use the port as a means of travel to other destinations across the Adriatic, but also for the architecture and history that Bari itself can provide.

The duration of your stay will largely dictate the accommodation for your trip. Short-term visits are better suited to bed and breakfasts, while week-long stays are more suited to renting villas along the coast to take in the world-famous Adriatic scenery and weather. Considering Bari is the second most important city economically in southern Italy after Naples, not just for its port but also for its university, and is the entry point to the Puglia region of Italy with its many famous wines and olive oil, there is enough here to keep a traveller busy for weeks at a time. And if several weeks in a row are something that cannot be accomplished in a single trip, there are dozens of reasons to come back for several different visits.

Whether it is the nightlife district near the Swabian Castle or the old town with its many Roman ruins and buildings like the Basilica of St. Nicholas or the Cathedral of San Sabino, or the shopping promenade along the sea, Bari is a modern Italian hub of activity, and one that should definitely not be missed.