The Costa Blanca or white coast in English is a stretch of coastline that runs for 200 km and is part of Alicante in Spain. A popular tourist destination there are load of things to see and do in the Costa Blanca.

If you’re a fan of theme parks then one you will want to check out whilst on holiday is Terra Mitica. This theme park is themed after different areas of the Mediterranean and features some truly thrilling rides.

You can easily get to Terra Mitica from Benidorm. You can also visit from your villa in Moraira or Javea, which will take you 30 minutes and 45 minutes respectively by car.

Visiting the Aitana Safari Park is a fun day out and you can see all manner of wildlife including zebra, lions and giraffes. Situated in the Aitana mountain range there is a trail laid out for you to follow at your leisure and enjoy the wonderful scenery and beautiful animals. Vergel Safari Park is another great safari park worth visiting on your travels in Spain.

For people that like a bit of exploring and adventure the Cuevas del Canelobra or Candelabra Cave is worth going to. A massive cavern 150 meters in length the caves have many stalactites and stalagmites giving the cave its name.

One of the highlights of a visit to the Costa Blanca has to be seeing dolphins at Mundomar a Marine and Exotic Animal Park. Situated close to Moraira and Javea the Exotic Animal Park is easy to get to.

In terms of where to stay when you visit the Costa Blanca one popular town located on the coast is Moraira. It is worth search for luxury villas Spain to get a good idea of what is available and to see some Spanish villa images.

Surfing is one of those sports that is fun whatever age or skill level you are. I mean you get to spend the whole day down the beach for starters and if you’re any good you might even catch some waves! The thing that makes surfing that little bit more enjoyable, apart from you cool animal clothing of course, are the great destinations around the world you can visit to practise your passion.

5. Starting in Central America El Salvador offers some great surfing locations. The reason that El Salvador is so popular is because it is usually less crowded than other famous surfing destinations. However be warned that El Salvador’s popularity is on the rise, so it may not be long until every surfing enthusiast is taking a trip down to the best surf spot of Sunzal, El Zonte and La Libertad. You will get the best swell during the rainy season between March and October.

4. Costa Rica has always been a very popular tourist destination in Central America. But now more than ever surfers are packing up their Billabong clothes and coming to the jewel of Central America for surfing rather than sightseeing. There are waves all year round on both coasts of the country, which are most suited to the more experienced surfer.

3. If you’re in America and want to surf the best locations are along the coast of California. Of course California is a well populated state and you can expect to find most surf spots packed nearly all year round. One thing to bear in mind is that the water is relatively cold for most of the year except in the height of summer around July and August.

2. Bali is a legendary destination not only for its surfing but also its natural beauty. An island Bali is the biggest tourist attraction in Indonesia. There are decent swells of around 12ft for most of the year between April and November but expect to get hassled by people trying to sell you souvenirs and trinkets.

1. Down in Australia, the home of Roxy surf clothing, you will encounter the luscious sandy beaches of the Gold Coast. The famous 70kms worth of beaches make this a true surfer’s paradise. The top spots to visit include Mermaid Beach, Narrowneck, The Spit and Palm Beach.

The UK is officially overworked. UK workers face longer weeks than their continental counterparts, and barely even take any time off for lunch. Compare this to countries such as France whose workforce enjoy a leisurely, drawn-out lunch hour, or the Spanish who even take an afternoon siesta, and us Brits can rightly say, we need a holiday!

While a high rate of productivity is important to help drag us out of the recession, time off is crucial for maintaining motivation, and above all, sanity! What a frustration then when holidays, intended to be a relaxing, stress-free getaway, come with their own set of worries. We have all heard horror stories about dilapidated hotels, flights to isolated airports and poor quality, but often it’s the little niggles that add up to turn a blissful break into a vexing vacation!

Picture the scene, your alarm clock doesn’t wake you up in time, you are late to the airport, your bags are overweight, a newborn is screaming in your eat for the entire flight, then you arrive at your destination only to realize you have forgotten something small but vital such as a mains adaptor. Already the holiday is off to a poor start and you are uptight instead of chilled.

Luckily there are a number of new gadgets ready for the Summer, targeted at easing your getaway gaffs. One of which is a portable luggage scale, this allows you to weigh your bags before you arrive the airport, eliminating the chance of paying the extortionate fees charged by money grabbing ‘budget’ airlines for your bag being a gram overweight.

Using the potable scale also means you can be as generous with your luggage as you can cram in everything you’d possibly need, you might even be able to fit that extra souvenir in on upon your return! This is a gizmo that would be universally handy to all, the only people I can’t think of that would need one are the England football team, their luggage is so devoid of accolades that it could probably all be flown back using an RC Helicopter!

Even if you were to find your bags overweight before you get to the conveyor belts, a quick swap of items between friends or family members, then measured by the portable scale could save you a handful of cash. Products like this would make great gifts for holiday-makers looking to remove the clutter and stress from their dream vacation. For a small investment you could save hundreds on baggage charges, money that would be better spent on an extra jug of sangria by the pool!

France is renowned for its high quality of wine and is a very popular tourist destination for this reason. The country is the world’s largest manufacturer of this alcoholic beverage and is second only to Spain in the amount of land covered by vineyards. If you have decided to travel to France to sample the laid back lifestyle while tasting some of the finest wine you will ever taste then these are the regions you will want to choose from. Remember that the correct wine glasses will help you to get the most out of your wine tasting experience.

For those who want to sample some great wines whilst also being able to see some sights and relax on the glorious beaches in the south of France Provence is a must. Provence is full of small medieval villages and was where Van Gogh based himself for a period of his life.

Located in Eastern France close to Germany is Alasace famous for its white wine. The grapes that they use in this region are the same varieties they use over the border in Germany to produce many of their wines.

For the red wine fans out there Bordeaux should be a stop on your travels. Bordeaux predominantly produces red wine although does also have some well known and very sweet white wines. Sitting alongside the Atlantic Ocean Bordeaux is ideally situated to export its wine to the rest of the world.

Burgundy is a area for those who want like wines both red and white, as they are produced in equally measure across the region. Of course everyone will know Burgundy for its famous red wine of the same name but there are also a lot of high quality white wines to sample in the area as well. Burgundy produces a wine called Beaujolais Nouveau, which is the only wine that can be consumed within the same year as its creation.

When people think of French wine one wine everyone remembers is Champagne. The coldest wine producing region in France, Champagne does produce a variety of still wines but is of course famous for its sparkling wine.

The Loire Valley produces mainly white wine alongside the Loire River. The region is split into a further 4 wine producing areas where the Upper Loire Valley produces the well known and popular Sauvignon Blanc.

I hope this article has provided you with some good ideas of where to travel in France dependant on your wine tasting needs.

The Isle of Wight is an excellent destination for everyone from honeymooning couples to families just on the lookout for a great time. With a rich history and unsurpassed scenery, there is much to experience on the Isle of Wight. The following are just 10 of the many great things you can do while visiting this beautiful place.

1. The Isle of Wight Steam Railway is world-famous. Run by volunteers, this is a popular attraction for tourists of all ages. It is not surprising, because you can experience a true blue steam locomotive and rich railway café. Taking a ride on this railway is a classic way to experience the beauty of the Isle of Wight. It is possible to take a day trip or to participate in one of the many gala events.

2. Ryde Castle is an excellent place to visit with its interesting architecture, said to have been originally commissioned by Henry VIII. The Castle’s original purpose was to defend Spithead and other areas from attack or invasion by the Spanish. During World War I, the castle was used as an infirmary for troops wounded on the Western front, and during World War II, it was often a headquarters for the army.

3. Another great place to visit is Dinosaur Isle. This is one of the most unique and famous museums in the world. The museum is a Paeleontologist’s dream – with mass appeal to both adults and kids alike. Opened in 2001, it claims to be the first custom museum of its type anywhere in the Britain. In Dinosaur Isle, you will see dramatic life-sized recreations and some of the most important fossilized relics ever discovered in Europe.

4. Fakenham Farm is a great place to go for a complete family treat, were you can see a wide variety of animals. Perhaps the most popular of the resident species are the Shetland ponies, emus, and water buffalos. You can see the farm’s hatching house, stroke some amazing animals in the barn, and probably learn something new with each visit.

5. While visiting the Isle of Wight, I would recommend taking part in some of the unique festivals held there. The Isle of Wight International Jazz Festival and Isle of Wight Festival for rock music are well established events. More recently, Bestival has grown in popularity, and is great fun for those who love to mix the vibrant music scene with the colour of the fancy dress themes. Here, you can experience some of the best music in the world.

6. If you want heady relaxation then travel over to Shanklin Chine. This is one of the most special areas of the island and guarantees some tranquil moments. Look out for the rare varieties of vegetation and wildlife, and enjoy the constant flow of water over the waterfall.

7. Even if garlic is not your thing, a visit to the garlic farm can be quite a joy. You can gain some insight to how this ancient is grown and what its uses have been throughout the years. Additionally, there are delicious cloves and plants of garlic to purchase for consumption or for planting.

8. The Needles Rock and Lighthouse is one of the most iconic elements on the Isle of Wight. You can take a ride in one of the chairlifts, if you dare, and experience some spectacular views as you descend to Alum Beach below. Arguably the most special part of this place is the unusual hues in the sand, and the wonderful turquoise colours in the sea. Additionally, there are other activities to enjoy such as the Jurassic Golf, a nine hole course set amongst dinosaur scenes. You should, of course, take the time to visit the Sweet Manufactory to see how some of the nation’s traditional sweets are made.

9. The Isle of Wight coastline is rich in opportunities to enjoy sailing adventures. Visit Cowes to take advantage of the world-famous sailing facilities. Here, both beginners and experts will find what they need to improve their sailing techniques. Additionally, there are many opportunities for those who love windsurfing, paragliding and other outdoor and water-focused sports and activities.

10. The island is famous for its speedway team – the Islanders – which is a great attraction for locals and mainlanders alike. Every single year, thousands of car and race enthusiasts stop here to see some stunning action. The best riders in the world have all visited and raced here.

For further information, dates and prices visit Island Breaks.

This is a list of the world’s current most dangerous countries. The list takes into account crime, crime you are likely to be involved in and murder rates. The purpose of this article is not to deter you from travelling but to make you more aware of the situations and potential danger in some of the lesser visited countries around the world.

1. Number one on the list is perhaps unsurprisingly Afghanistan. Now I don’t suppose many people are planning a summer holiday to Afghanistan and for good reason. Most of you will already know that Afghanistan is in a state of war and you will find the roads and land riddled with landmines. Bombings occur often and are most prone at or near embassies, making this a poor destination choice for anyone visiting.
2. In Venezuela your biggest enemy will be the man at the top Hugo Chavez. Venezuela’s leader has no problem when it comes to expressing his hate for almost any other country and this of course has an effect on the locals. Just being a foreigner in this country will put you at risk.
3. Iraq like Afghanistan is full of violence at this current moment in time. Rebel forces are still active throughout much of the country and road side killings are a daily event.
4. Haiti has always been an unorganised and dangerous country even without the recent and deadly earthquake. One of the biggest dangers that are faced in Haiti is the chance that you will be kidnapped. Haiti has the highest rate of kidnappings in the world and there is no discrimination when it comes to the victims of this crime. Now with the earthquake people are is a state of desperation and anyone who isn’t will be singled out.
5. Somalia has always been a very dangerous country. The rebel groups are not afraid to attack military forces in Somalia and the pirates who patrol the waters have been known to take people from any country hostage.

Post by Alex who works for silversea cruises a luxury cruises operator.

The Daily Star was removed from sale a Manchester airport, last week, due to its use of an overly sensational and disturbing headline and image: ‘TERROR AS PLANE HITS ASH CLOUD’.

Several other airports (Gatwick, Leeds-Bradford, Bristol and Liverpool) had removed the newspaper from their shelves the previous day, but allowed the paper to be sold on the 22nd.

A spokesman for Manchester Airport said that it had been a joint action by WH Smith staff and their airport colleagues.

The Daily Star’s sensational headline had been accompanied by a computer enhanced image of a jumbo jet with its engines on fire. It was felt that this had the potential to cause panic among passengers.

The newspaper has received widespread criticism for the headline and image. Some have likened it to the Sun-Hillsborough debacle in which the Sun newspaper published inappropriate criticisms of Liverpool football fans after the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989.

Some have described the Daily Star’s action in publishing this headline as ‘blatant psychological terrorism’. The image used was derived from a TV mock up of an incident from 1982 and this was not made clear to readers. Anyone looking at the front page would have been led to believe that the image was that of a flight which had gone through the volcanic cloud after commercial flight restrictions had been lifted the previous day.

There is no doubt that the Daily Star headline and image were misleading and inaccurate. This style of reporting is more about newspaper sales than it is about providing accurate and timely information to readers. But was the action of Manchester Airport in removing the newspaper from the shelves of WH Smith an over-reaction?

For great savings always book your Manchester Airport Parking in advance

I’ve just returned from a last minute holiday break in Lanzarote and I think I’m more worn out now than I was before I left. The reason for my malaise is the hotel we were staying in.

Now I understand that last minute bargains are often bargains for a reason. But I’ve enjoyed many short and long stay last minute holidays and this is the first time that I’ve had cause for complaint. So here is my list of grumbles that I’m sending to the holiday company.

1. Noisy Room. Our hotel room was directly above the hotel bar which continued to serve drinks most of nearly every night. The raucous laughter, shouting and occasional arguments were the main cause of the bags under my eyes.
2. Smelly bathroom. There was something seriously wrong with the drains. The smell was appalling and nothing we did made it any better. The toilet bowl was cracked and the whole bathroom suite was in need of replacement.
3. Bad Bathroom Design. The compact en-suite bathroom was so miniscule that, once inside, it was impossible to close the door.
4. Paper thin walls. The partitions between rooms were so thin that we could hear our neighbours even when they were talking at normal level. It all became very x-rated when they became amorous.
5. Couldn’t-care-less staff and manager. The attitude of the staff and especially the manager, was surly and bad tempered. Probably because they always had hangovers after staying up late drinking in their bar.
6. Food was inedible. On two mornings there was no breakfast and on the mornings when breakfast was served it was near inedible. The chef was another one of the late-night drinking gang.
7. Security was appalling. The lock on our room door was faulty making it easy to simply push the door open. The manager was so untrustworthy that we didn’t dare leave our valuables in his care.

All in all this was the worst holiday myself and my partner have ever had. I just wish I could tell you who the holiday company were and the name of the hotel. But I’ve been advised that, since I am trying to get our money back, I should keep this information to myself, for the time being.

But let this be a warning to anyone taking a last minute bargain. Do your homework and try to ensure that you don’t have the miserable experience that we’ve just had.

This is your chance to win a black Nintendo Wii. I saw this a few days ago and it looks really fun, you use facebook connect (this automatically enters you into the competition) and then you can create a funny little movie.

Below is a quote from the Blackpool Movie website. I hope you have a good time making your movie and hopefully you will be the one having even more fun with your new Nintendo Wii.

“We know you love Blackpool and we love you!   We want to give you a Wii!  Check out our new “Blackpool the Movie” prize draw where you can upload your own images of your friends and family into the film.   Have a play at being a motion picture director on http://www.blackpoolthemovie.com, follow us and tell your friends   and win that Wii! Not only this but well crafted entries will be entered into a prize draw for one lucky family to win THE BIG BLACKPOOL GOLDEN TICKET! Click through to read more ”

Good Luck.

It would certainly seem that so many kids out there enjoy taking their toys with them on holiday but what is the reason for all of this?

A Bit Of Home

More often than not kids like to take something from home with them because they will miss the place even when their parents are travelling with them. The cuddly toy not only smells of home but gives them memories from their home.

Favourite

Every child has a favourite toy that they simply have to take everywhere. This is a very normal thing to do so there is no need to be worried if this happens.

Make sure that before you get your child a toy that you read all of the toys reviews on the subject to make sure it is safe.