Europe is a unique part of the world, in a couple of hours you can leave Paris a be in one of many contrasting cultures, from the East European plains to the high mountain ranges of the Alps or the Ural mountains that separate Europe and Asia. There are also a number of land locked countries such as Austria and Switzerland and numerous major islands including the United Kingdom and Iceland. Europe is certainly a region of vast culture, contrast and great beauty, and at one point much of it was under the control of the Roman Empire. There is no question that the Romans had a major impact on Europe’s development by implementing infrastructure with the creation of roads and sewage systems. The Roman legacy is also prevalent in language, literature, legal codes, government, architecture, engineering, medicine and we own much of our modern way of life to the Romans pioneering spirit. Today, Europe makes for a perfect destination for tailor made travel

There is only one place in the world to experience the true extent and majesty of the Roman Empire and that is to visit Italy. Although the Roman influence can be seen throughout the country, the best place to immerse yourself in the culture is, of course, Rome. It’s hard to walk anywhere in central Rome without walking in to one of the cities many monuments and architectural landmarks. St. Peters Square in Vatican City is perhaps one of the most breathtaking sights in the world and one of the sights to see before you die. The Vatican City is actually a landlocked sovereign city state and its territory consists of a walled city enclave within the city of Rome. Just to the east of Vatican City is the Castel Sant’Angelo, a cylindrical castle built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Today the castle serves as a museum but it was also previously used by the popes as a fortress and castle. Of course the Colosseum is a major tourist landmark and represents the Roman Empire to many people. It is considered one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering. Although the Colosseum has suffered the effects of time, earthquakes and stone robbers, the building remain an iconic structure to symbolise the Roman Empire.

I could sit here and list iconic landmarks in and around Rome, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, but the city has so much more to offer and like many capitals around the world it has something to offer everyone. Trastevere is one of the historic riono (districts) and is situated just south of Vatican City. Its narrow cobbled streets lined by medieval houses offers an attractive location to spend the day and during the evenings and night, both locals and tourists alike frequent the many pubs, bars and restaurants making it a great hub for nights out and social activities.

Italy wouldn’t be Italy without sports and the Stadio Olimpico is the largest sports stadium in Rome. The stadium is home to S.S. Lazio football club and is also where the Italian national football team play their home games. Alternatively, if you are not a football fan then you may prefer rugby, and with the Six Nations Championship taking place every February you can watch first  class international rugby in the city at the Stadio Flaminio. The stadium is also home to Atletico Roma F.C. and has played host to many famous artists including David Bowie, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stone and U” to name a few.

Rome has so much to offer it’s hard to know where to start, for a city this is so saturated with historic building and monuments there is perhaps no other city to rival its culture, architecture and history.

Alex is an internet marketer working for Wexas a company that deals in America holidays

As a boy I would be glued to the television any time a Western Movie appeared on screen. There’s no wonder I joined a gang of bandits when I was a child. Well Okay, we weren’t so much a bunch of rough talking, tobacco-spitting rednecks, just three small children playing in a back-garden but we could be quite intimidating at times. So why do connotations of cowboys and the Wild West rouse this sense of bravado in children as well as men? By embarking on a ranch holiday you can experience many of the themes which made you fall in love with the Wild West genre.

Come on admit it, you still harbour the dream of riding out on rugged western territory. The Western genre often portrays the conquest of the wilderness and the subordination of nature in the name of civilisation; a nomadic wanderer, a loner, set out to make things right. A ranch holiday gives you the chance to fulfil that childhood dream: ride a horse daily, explore the rocky terrain and camp out under the stars in the Old West.

A farm holiday provides the atmosphere and environment to bond as a family. Choose from a range of exciting activities to at the same time such as canoeing, cycling or even cattle driving. You can also relax in the wonderful ranch environment, with excellent accommodation and luxury suites. Enjoy tours of the countryside whilst being informed of the rich history of this part of the world.

But before you rush off on your ranch adventure you’ll firstly have to choose whereabouts you’d like to visit. These are a number of dude ranches across North America with ranches in Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, California, Nevada Arizona and parts of Canada. Dude ranches either accept paying guests, or cater to them, depending on the specific farm. Dude ranches date back to the late 1800s, with the term “dude ranch” itself dating back to the 1920s, when the Dude Ranchers’ Association was founded.

Aidan Donovan is a copywriter for a web designer who writes on a wide range of topics from travel and tourism to washing machine reviews.

There are many definitions of a “luxury” holiday.  For some,” luxury” might just consist of getting a holiday at all – anywhere!

Vegas

For others, luxury is synonymous with excitement, action and nightlife.  The most in your face destination for that is Las Vegas, the gambling Mecca that’s become a byword for American gaudiness.  Despite that it always emerges as the top destination for many European holidaymakers.  According to some polls, it even tops Australia and South Africa as the preferred place to let your hair down.

Dubai As Much As You Can Afford

If you equate luxury with the opportunity to “shop until you drop”, then Dubai must also be high on the list.  It has a gaudy exuberance once described by the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart as “what happens when Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia have babies”. It depends on your taste of course, but Dubai seems to offer lots of opportunities to buy stuff (the covered Gold Souk in Deira is Dubai’s most famous gold market) or drive across desert dunes in a 4×4 while staying in a very upmarket version of Docklands.

Luxury Is Long Haul

Some people find it more comfortable, and less expensive, to seek luxury at home in the UK.  You can find some sumptuous places in Britain with excellent hotels and country manors, golf courses and spa resorts.    For many seasoned travellers however, real luxury is not local and if your idea of a truly first class holiday experience involves excellent food, superb service and accommodation and the freedom to do as you please, then genuine luxury is long haul.

Tailor Made luxury

People who turn to niche operators like Tropical Sky usually shun anything with “package” in the title like the plague!   They expect holidays to be as carefully crafted as any Saville Row suit to fit their individual needs because that’s what they’ve paid for!   Their ideal tour operator will construct a unique itinerary around individual preferences and desires – not shoehorn them into a pre-prepared basket of destinations and activities.  Luxury holidays should leave you free to have fun without the worry of meeting a tour bus schedule – it should be waiting for you!   It’s that degree of individual attention which accounts for the cost in most luxury packages.

Some remote and as yet under-exploited destinations demand this approach  simply because the usual tourist infrastructure isn’t there!  Chile doesn’t have too many Holiday Inns while Peru is more suited to rugged individualists who don’t object to a bit of comfort.  Vietnam, once considered the sole province of backpacking youth, has got a lot more luxurious with excellent international standard Five Star hotels springing up in places like Hoi An.

The Undiscovered Caribbean

But you don’t have to pick the underdeveloped or the unexplored corners of the globe to get a unique individual luxury holiday experience. More established holiday destinations like the Caribbean have thousands of unsung delights that will keep the more adventurous tourist occupied.  Specialist travel companies provide Caribbean holidays that are more interesting and unique than you’ll find with the mass market operators who tend to cater for those who just want to slob out on a beach for a fortnight.    Then again, if that’s your idea of luxury – go for it!

If I am writing on the blog I am always talking about Florida and this is because I have visited the place so many times before. If you have never been to Orlando, Florida then I suggest putting in for a holiday request at the office space you work at and packing your bags ASAP!

The biggest reason why most people head across the Atlantic to this part of the world is of course down to the theme parks and if you are wondering just how many theme parks there are in Florida you are easily looking at 10+. Here are just some of the ones that Disney has on offer.

Disney

Disney has the largest collection of its theme parks in Florida with four main parks, two water parks an indoor gaming park and of course a shopping zone, sports complex and much, much more. Thousands of people travel to Florida just to go to these parks and to experience it for the first time. Once you have been here you cannot help but go back time and time again. These are the main parks of Disney World:

Magic Kingdom

This park is not to be confused with the park in California and instead of being “the happiest place on earth” this park was rather suitably named “the most magical place on earth”. Split into five different themed lands this park has something for everyone from the glorious sweet smells and look of a early 20th century Main Street USA to the Wild West feel of Frontierland. If you are saving up to go here you might want to wait for 2013 as this is the year most of the attractions in the new expanded Fantasyland should be opening!

EPCOT

Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow or EPCOT for short is all about technological innovation and international culture and is split into two parts, Future World and World Showcase. Future World contains the majority of the rides from the calm but interesting Spaceship Earth to the simulation of a launch mission to Mars in Mission Space! World Showcase is all about exploring different cultures by walking through 11 different countries but don’t worry, kids won’t get bored due to the fact there are Disney Characters, rides and Kim Possible missions to undertake!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

This park is all about the movies and the days where Hollywood was at its best (30s and 40s). Although this park contains some rides that are way out of this timeline such as Rock and Rollercoaster and Toy Story Mania its most popular ride the Tower of Terror is taken directly from this timeline. You will also find that famous actors and directors as well as the odd police officer walk the street from time to time and interact with the guests. I have to say when I was younger I overlooked this park a lot (perhaps because of the older rides) but now this parked is just as loved as Magic Kingdom and EPCOT.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom has been credited buy the Association of Zoos and Aquariums which means they have exceeded standards in Education, Conservation and Research but if you think this park is just a simple Zoo then you are very wrong indeed. The Park is split into seven areas and there are many rides and animals to spot along the way. Guests can choose from travelling on a realistic safari (with real animals free to walk about) or travelling back to the age of the dinosaurs with Dinosaur! (perhaps not a ride for small children).
Don’t forget the water parks and the indoor gaming park too!

What are you waiting for, clock off from the serviced offices Victoria office and get to Disney!

As a nation, Britain loves wine, we spend an estimated £11.7 on it every year and when you consider that there are on average 75 grapes in a bottle of wine, it all soon adds up. Furthermore, all of our habits differ from person to person with some of us only drinking on the odd occasion, some of us drinking a glass a day and some a bottle a day. We also love champagne, and the UK consumes more of the bubbly stuff then the US, Germany and Belgium combined with a staggering 30,523,359 bottles estimated to be consumed annually.

Champagne is grown in a region of France of the same name and has an estimated 14,000 growers in 300 villages which are spread out between the three main growing areas. Some of the champagne produced is bottle and sold under the individual growers own labels, of the 14,000 growers this is estimated to be around 4,000 growers. The bulk of the production is purchased through co-operatives or separate champagne houses where the grapes are blended into either the major brands or the supermarket brands. If you like to drink expensive champagne but don’t like to pay the high prices then a trip to the region is well worth the effort, where you can pick up some of the best champagnes from local growers and producers for a fraction of the cost.

Image By Megan Mallen

The Loire Valley is one of Frances top wine producing regions and is often referred to as the garden of France. Famous for its white wine it is considered one of the most beautiful wine regions in the country. The Loire Valley follows the river Loire and runs from Auvergne, through Tours and ambles its way to the Atlantic coast at the city of Nantes. As with many of the wine producing regions in the country, the vineyards of the Loire Valley belonged to the monasteries and the monks who inhabited the monasteries were responsible for the development of the wine production. Wines produced in the region include Chinon, Muscadet Sur Lie, Sancerre and Vouvray. Around 75% of the wine production is for white wines but the region also produces rose and red wine and is the second largest producer of sparkling white wines. The region is also famous for its beauty chateaux that are dotted around the region. Some of the most famous chateaux’s include Chateau De Chenonceau, Chateau De Chambord and Chateau D’Azay-Le-Rideau.

Image By NZwombat

Burgundy is another of the top wine producing regions in France and is known for Pinot Noir reds and Chardonnay whites. Starting 100km south of Paris the region stretched south to Lyon. Traditionally and historically, wines from Burgundy are considered to be some of the best because they convey the flavour of the land and they are sometimes referred to as the most exciting wines in the world. Due to limited quantity, reputation and high quality of the wine produced in the Burgundy region, the price per bottle can be very high. Burgundy wines are among some of the most expensive wines in the world and some people buy them as an investment. Production from 1959 is widely considered to be the best produced in the century.

Image By Megan Mallen

Finally, the Cote du Rhone wine region follows the River Rhone south of Lyon and extending down to just south of Avignon. It was one of the first regions in the country to produce wine and architectural remains from the Roman occupation can still be seen to this day. There are two very different areas in the region, those being north and south of the river, and there are an estimated 9,000 wine makers in the region producing around 450 million bottles of wine every year. Around 90% of this is produced in the south. The vineyards that produce the wine in the north of the region are located on steep slopes cut into the granite hillside and are known to be some of the hardest places to grow grapes in the world.

Image By Matt and Kim Rudge

Alex is a freelance internet marketer and copywriter working a company that specialises in wine racks and kitchen accessories.

Australia Zoo, the 76 Acre Queensland zoo owned by Steve Irwin’s wife Terri, is reportedly in danger of closing. Terri Irwin recently denied any truth in the reports, admitting that several recent conditions have caused belt tightening at the attraction. More than 20 staff were laid off due to the floods that hit Queensland in January. And visitor numbers have been diving more generally in the wake of the global recession. Terri Irwin nonetheless insists that the wildlife programs the zoo runs are in no danger of folding, saying “Nothing has closed. Nothing will close.”

The reports came courtesy of a number of former staffers affected by the aforementioned layoffs. A former receptionist claims that ‘people are scared to tell the truth’. Other meanwhile claimed that the financial problems are more about poor planning and debt than the environmental disaster. The zoo enjoys patronage in memory of the famed ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin, with many making the pilgrimage to Australia Zoo as part of their Australia holidays. But the tragic absence of the legendary wildlife reporter himself has allegedly wounded the zoo’s prospects.

Australia zoo was built, after all, on the money that Steve Irwin generated by doing nature documentaries. Five years after his death, the zoo and its 1000 animals have to completely self-sufficient. The draw of the park is reputedly enough to grab people on their New Zealand Holidays, and high profile donors include the Dalai Lama and Justin Timberlake. But the management’s (unquestionably noble) goal of fulfilling Steve Irwin’s vision may have overstretched the business. The site is due to grow to accommodate a hotel and a 334 acre safari park, and recent developments like an African themed artificial island have been costly in light of the falling visitor numbers. In total, about 700,000 people take leave of their luxury holidays to visit the zoo.

When you are faced with a long journey, particularly when you are off on your summer holidays you are about to put your skin through an ordeal. But sticking to a skin care routine when you are trying to concentrate on having a great travel experience can be difficult. For a start, most people want to travel as light as possible. The last thing you need is to be carrying lots of bottles and potions that are going to add to your transport costs. Not only does this affect the cost in relation to your baggage weight, but there is also the issue of potential spillage. Strict TSA regulations on carrying bags, make excess weight costs one of the last things needed for your holiday.
There are three main suggestions that I would recommend for travelling and ensuring that a decent level of care is given to your skin:

• Multi-tasking skin care products that can travel well, for example shea butter that can be used for a number of different tasks such as lip balm for when things become too dry – often whilst on board a flight. It also works well on the hands to keep them from becoming dry and cracked in hotter climates.
• Check to see if your favourite skin care range comes in a handy travel pack. Many leading brands such as Gatineau offer a good travel kit which comes in small bottles and reusable pack that satisfy the TSA regulations. One of the best products featured in the range is Elemis skincare, which is a good quality range including moisturiser – perfect for the atmosphere created in a pressurised cabin of an aircraft.
• Buy yourself some small containers from your local chemist and decant some of your skin care products into these. This may take some time, but will enable you to stick to your skin care routine whilst away from your normal environment.

For more information about caring for your skin whilst on holiday, visit www.thebeautyroom.co.uk/ for profession help and advice.

These troubled financial times have made it increasingly difficult for graduates to find employment which is why many are deciding that it’s a good chance to see the world. While university can obviously give you the qualifications you need to enhance your career prospects, travelling can help you develop as a person making you more employable. Adapting to other people’s culture and way of life can improve your tolerance and understanding of people. If you’re looking for a destination that differs in almost every aspect to Western way of life, why not go to The Far East?

Exploring The Far East is a unique cultural experience like no other. The most difficult decision you’ll have to make is deciding which part of this stunning region to visit; its sheer size makes it impossible to see it all. Finding the right balance in plotting your travel route and maintaining a degree of spontaneity is key to procuring the most from your adventure. Travelling can be costly, preparation and being sufficiently funded is crucial. If you’re finances are low (being a student myself I know exactly how that feels) why not opt for a shorter holiday.

China offers a glimpse of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, great for History buffs. Nicknamed the ‘Sleeping Dragon’, China is a popular travel destination with the perfect combination of stunning landscapes, bustling city life, world famous landmarks and a fascinating mix of ethnic cultures. Each city offers a unique dish, In Xian you can feast on the delicious dumplings while in Beijing why not try the delicious Peking duck?

It’s hard to imagine a Far Eastern country more culturally diverse than Malaysia. It’s made up of two major regions: Sabah & Sarawek, on the island of Borneo, and Peninsular Malaysia, which lies just south of Thailand. Malaysia’s tranquil coastlines offers an array of water sports for those waterborne adventurers including, windsurfing, kayaking and scuba diving all back dropped by tranquil sandy beaches.

Returning home can be a bit of a downer. You’ll be exhausted and probably be short of cash. However, the experience will undoubtedly improve you employability. On your travels you would have learned a lot about yourself and others. Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s not great CV fodder!

Aidan Donovan is a copywriter for several electrical appliance stores that deal in anything from washer dryers to fridge freezers.

I have been looking forward to a holiday trip across the Solent to the tranquil pastures of the Isle of Wight for some time. In fact where I am heading for, is going to be far from tranquil. I am going to the 2011 Isle of Wight Festival held at Seaclose Park near Newport. But this year, I am not just going to be attending as a rock enthusiast – I have been invited to blog about the event for a leading media company. I am very excited about this, as previously, I have only been involved in live blogging at conference events. Should mean that I can wangle my way backstage and maybe even grab a sound bite from a musician or two!
So what is all the fuss about? The Isle of Wight Festival is the granddaddy of all UK music festivals, and last year celebrated its 40th anniversary. This is not to be confused with Bestival, the other of the Island’s great summer music festivals. Bestival tickets are now available, but be warned, they are likely to sell like hot cakes within the next few week.
In the past, just about anyone who was anyone attended the first major electrified event in 1970. The line up for that 3 day event included The Who, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Santana and many more. The list is extensive and reads like a ‘Who’s who’ of popular music at the end of the 1960s. The Beatles never made it to the Isle of Wight, because of the litigation and infighting that preceded the eventual demise of the band later that same year. However, Paul McCartney did headline the event last year to celebrate the special anniversary.

So who’s going to be there this year and how do you get to the island. Well, it probably easier to answer the second part of the question first. If you are travelling through Portsmouth, the island is served by the car ferry and the Fastcat, both offered by Wightlink.

Although a lot of us love travelling around the world to luxurious destinations I think that it is safe to say that we often forget that Britain truly has some of the best destinations to visit in the world. I am talking Devon, Brighton, London and of course Blackpool here and if you have never had the chance to visit places like these then you really are missing out on a lot. For now let’s pick one of the most popular destinations, Devon, to talk about.

Believe it or not February is one of the most popular months of the year for people booking their holidays and although you might be looking into Florida or something similar to this I would encourage at least taking the time at looking to book a short break in Devon, here is why.

Best Of Everything
Devon is great for UK family holidays and this is because of the vast things to do in the area. Anything from wandering around fishing villages to trying out water sports and yes even walking down sunny, sandy beaches can be done in Devon.

Summer holidays with the kids are highly recommended and if you are looking for somewhere to stay on your family holidays then look to TLH or the Jamaica Inn as two of the options to begin with. TLH for example offer out dance holidays and bowls breaks too so if you want a piece of everything Devon has on offer I would recommend them completely.

Do not forget that you have the beautiful natural playgrounds that are Dartmoor and Exmoor and the coast is just wonderful in both rain and shine.

Unusual things include shark tanks, firing a cannon and of course Paignton Zoo.

So whether you are thinking holiday away or holiday at home this year, I would certainly recommend Devon as an option.

For more info take a look at the Devon Tourist Board Site: