Finding the perfect Cruise Deals...

There are plenty of cruise deals on offer from a wide range of providers, and with so much competition about you’re sure of getting a great bargain on your next cruise.

Operators such as P&O and Thomas Cook run cruises in all parts of the world, using some of the most magnificent cruise liners available, incorporating every luxury at a decent and affordable price.

There are cruises in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Baltic Sea and many other exotic and interesting places, and cruising has many advantages over the more traditional types of holiday.

One of the biggest attractions of cruising is that you know exactly how much the holiday will cost, practically down to the last penny. There are usually all sorts of unexpected expenses involved in most holidays, but with a cruise all the entertainment, eating and drinking is included in the overall price, so it is easy to set a budget for your cruise and stick to it.

The whole ship is essentially geared towards keeping you happy. There is no wasted time, and once you’ve unpacked you simply get on with enjoying yourself, with plenty of staff on hand ready to assist. The kids will never be bored, with kids’ entertainments very much in evidence, and there are plenty of things for the teenagers too. This will free you up to concentrate on having a well-earned rest yourself, and enjoy the movies, ballrooms, gala meals and the other entertainments available.

There is plenty for the singles and the romantic couples as well. In fact, many people go on cruises looking for a partner, so there’s little chance of getting bored whatever relationship category you fit into.

Stilted Apartments in Thailand...

One of the most exotic holiday locations are the stilted apartments on the island resorts around Thailand. Most tourists arrive in Bangkok and make their way to the paradise destinations of Phi Phi, Phuket or Krabi. These tropical islands are covered in rain forests, have excellent weather all year round and miles of soft golden sand and crystal blue waters to play in.

The resorts of Thailand feature apartments with glass bottomed portholes in the rooms through which you can catch the marine life. They are exquisitely decorated in the local style featuring rich fabrics, sturdy dark timber and bamboo.  Many of the resorts have all modern facilities like Wi-Fi, environmentally controlled air-conditioning and plunge pools and verandas.

Should you tire of relaxing on sun loungers or swimming with the fish on the delicate white coral reefs, there are many locations you can visit, all within easy reach of the resorts. Patong is the entertainment capital on Phuket, with an active beachfront full of bars, shops and restaurants while Phuket town is the commercial centre full of the real Thai lifestyle.

Krabi also has a vibrant nightlife scene with disco bars and world cuisine restaurants but also provides a great start from which to explore the natural wonders of Thailand, like the parklands of Kao Phanom Bencha, the roaring waters of the Namtok and Ton Ham falls, or the caving complex at Tham Khao.

Phi Phi is a low-slung island with little high ground but swathes of warm soft sand and an inviting turquoise ocean in which to swim. Phi Phi is the perfect place to lay back and do nothing.

Consider a cruise for your next holiday...

Traditional holidays are fraught with all manner of problems, from packing and unpacking to great stretches of boredom as you travel to your destination and often experience traffic problems, with the kids going berserk in the back seat and tempers fraying.

At airports there are exhaustive delays too, security checks, delays in take-off and landing, finding your way to your hotel at the other end, and so on. It often seems as if the game is not worth the candle, and many unhappy campers are happy to get back to work afterwards.

But take a cruise and the story is completely different. You unpack and pack only the one time. All your tailored entertainment is laid on for you, from evening dance parties and casinos to movies and all manner of on board performances.

There are gyms and spas, swimming pools, kids’ entertainments and a wide range of cuisines to choose from at a range of restaurants, and none of these will eat unexpectedly into your budget because they’re all included in the price of the cruise.

Keeping in touch with the folks back home is easier than on land, with telephones and the internet readily available. In fact, taking a cruise makes for the perfect holiday, taking all the stress and delay out of the equation and concentrating only on the pleasure and entertainment, which is how any holiday should be.

Book a cruise for your next break, and see what a difference it can make for the whole family.

Travelling to Egypt...

The words ‘holiday cruise’ may conjure up images of majestic ships such as the QE2 and the mighty oceans, but cruise companies also use smaller ships that travel on internal waterways.  These cruise holidays are becoming increasingly popular with tourists from around the world.

The Nile has always been vital to the economic success of Egypt and the survival of the people. Travelling on this important river in the comfort of a cruise ship is a great way to visit the country and to experience the treasures of one of the world’s most fascinating ancient cultures.  Tourists visit sites such as Kom Ombo, which is a temple situated on the banks of the Nile around 30 kilometres to the north of Aswan. Dedicated to two gods, Sobek the crocodile-headed god and Horus the falcon-headed god, the temple has some splendid reliefs including a detailed set of medical instruments. Mummified crocodiles are also visible and the well preserved bases of the walls give an indication of how they were originally constructed.

Luxor is Egypt’s tourist capital and is home to many of the best known temples and tombs. The town can be explored by either taxi or a caleche (a horse-drawn carriage). The West Bank is home to the tombs of the Valley of the Queens’ and the Valley of the Kings’ and includes Tutankhamen’s tomb.  The tombs’ hieroglyphics still retain their beautiful colours.

Other places of interest are Queen Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, the Colossi of Memnon, the Ramesseum and the Habo Temple. On the East Bank is the Kranal Temple, which is comprised of three main temples that were built and enlarged over a period of 1300 years.

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.

Travel guides – Thailand...

The country of Thailand is actually a Kingdom, located at the heart of Southeast Asia. Two of its most visited cities are Bangkok (Land of Smiles, formerly best known as a backpacker’s playground) and Phuket.

Attractions include the opulent Royal Grand Palace, the floating market (Damnoen Saduak – for the inimitable experience of floating through one of Thailand’s river villages), the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, the Mae Sa waterfall of Chiang Mai, the National Museum of Bangkok, Chatuchak Market (said to be the world’s biggest flea market), and several stunning and historic temples within Bangkok itself and throughout Thailand, including the Tiger Temple and the Marble Temple (Wat Benchamabophit). Thailand also has many regal structures, sacred buildings, landscaped gardens and animal safaris. Thailand has immaculate beaches and offers every kind of traveller the ultimate holiday experience, whatever your budget. Koh Phangan is well-known for its monthly full moon parties, euphoric beach gatherings where natives and travellers share the vibe and enjoy the rhythm of the music from dusk until dawn.

For a secluded getaway, there are private palm-fringed islands, where you can stay in a tree house, a rustic beach-side hut or an authentic camp lodge. For those who prefer luxury, Thailand has hundreds of spa hotels which offer treatments such as specialist Thai massage.

There is so much to do, whether you prefer lounging on one of the hundreds of sunny beaches or catching the waves. There is a good choice of water sports (diving, snorkelling, surfing), or there are excellent routes to hike or bike – take your camera and lots of water. The country is at its hottest between March and May, while peak tourist season is from November to February. Parts of Thailand (and many other regions of Asia) were devastated by the 2004 tsunami, but true to the Thai spirit, a full recovery is in good progress and Thailand continues to attract millions of tourists every year.

What Should You Expect From Thomson Cruises?...

Thomson is a well known holiday provider in the UK. They have a dedicated section on their website for all their cruise holidays, and this will give you a good idea of what to expect when you are considering booking one.

For starters Thomson Cruises will take you on one of five different cruise ships. The newest one of them is called Thomson Dream, and it has five restaurants to choose from as well as two swimming pools. But all the Thomson liners offer their own special blend of relaxation and luxury, so be sure to look at them all before making your final selection.

Thomson Cruises are available to take in many areas of the world too. For example if you have ever wanted to cruise around the Western Mediterranean, taking in such countries as Portugal, Spain and Italy, this company can get you there in style. They can also show you the Red Sea, the Black Sea and the Caribbean and all it has to offer too.

Everything from a short break – for a week perhaps – to a much longer stay is available with Thomson Cruises. You can also arrange to stay somewhere for a short time before you take your cruise – it all depends on what you are looking for.

One thing is certain though; Thomson Cruises offer a great package and lots of versatility no matter what you want from a cruise. With holiday packages for families, couples and singles, this is a good company to cruise with.

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.

The Wonders of Red Sea Cruises...

Most of us have seen numerous photographs of the magnificent Egyptian Pyramids and the enigmatic Sphinx, the tomb of Tutankhamen, the eerily beautiful lost city of Petra in Jordan, and the gleaming towers of glass and steel soaring from the arid desert landscapes of Dubai. Now, thanks to cruise operators like Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, Thomson Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises, you can directly experience not just one but several of these spellbinding wonders in the same cruise holiday. All of these companies run superb Red Sea cruises.

To take just two examples, the fabulous Brilliance of the Seas will be your ship if you opt for Royal Caribbean’s Dubai cruise holidays – 13 decks of state of the art technology and design, with glass elevators facing the sea and a thirteen storey glass Centrum, this ship boasts the unrivalled Golden Anchor Service standard. You’ll visit spectacular locations like Dubai itself, Muscat, Oman, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain. Thomson’s Red Sea cruises include ports of call at Aqaba in Jordan, with its gorgeous beaches and crystal clear sea (you’ll be able to see Petra, an entire city carved into limestone rock by the ancients, from here). Other sights include; Egypt’s Safaga, built on the 4,000 year-old city of Thebes and gateway to the legendary Valley of the Kings, which includes the tombs of Tutankhamen and Ramses II, and Port Said, from where you can behold the mesmerising Pyramids.

Red Sea cruises bring a dimension of awe and wonderment to the cruise experience, which it’ll be difficult to find anywhere else on earth. And with cruise deals perennially on offer, which can be especially good if you take a chance on last minute cruises, you’ll be pleasantly haunted by your memories of this stunning region.