The Culture Bank

If you’ve never had the pleasure of a holiday in the Netherlands, now is the time to see this amazing locale for yourself.  There is no better way to experience all that Holland has to offer, than with a holiday cottage rental.

Holiday homes in Holland are plentiful in Amsterdam, making holiday rentals a fabulous choice for a quick getaway to the city.  Book accommodation in a luxury penthouse with fantastic canal views, a trendy studio flat just steps away from the Spui market, or a quaint houseboat right in the heart of the city.  There are a wide variety of properties to choose from when you’re looking for holiday homes in Holland.

Holiday rentals cost much less than you’d expect, and the value for your money far surpasses that of traditional hotel or resort accommodation.  Renting a private residence for your next holiday means you can enjoy all the comforts of home. Basic amenities include spacious sleeping quarters, full-service kitchens, completely furnished living rooms, television, internet access, and convenient parking. Many holiday homes in Holland also feature amenities like swimming pools, private balconies, spectacular views, laundry facilities, and air conditioning.  Discover the difference for yourself, with holiday rentals in Holland.

There’s so much to explore in and around Amsterdam, including the open air markets in Jordaan quarter, the traditional fishing village at Volendam, the natural beauty of the Vondelpark and the funky allure of the Pijp district.  Renting holiday homes in Holland gives you the opportunity and flexibility to see the sights from a convenient, affordable central location.

Paphos in Southern Cyprus is still a fairly quiet resort in comparison with Limassol, Protarus and the famous Napa, but it growing very quickly as available land is being built on to support the tourist industry.

Apartments and villas are available to rent in huge numbers; even in the high season it is still possible to find something suitable but there are also a number of excellent hotels offering all inclusive packages, or rooms only, depending on your preference. The beautiful Coral Beach and Resort comes at the top of the list of favourites for anyone who has stayed there.

The most amazing sight here is the sea at sunset. Watch the sea turn to different shades of blue until it eventually turns navy blue, with a huge orange sun sinking down behind the horizon. This is a perfect picture place for romantics and artists alike.

Paphos is famous for its Roman mosaics, which are quite spectacular; The Tombs of The Kings, which is a 4th century catacomb where dignitaries were interred, is certainly worth visiting.

One curiosity which can be found on the road leading up to the main shopping area is the ‘prayer tree’ at the Agia Solomoni Catacomb Church which claimed to have been the synagogue of Roman Paphos. The huge tree is covered in prayer cloths, each one left by a visitor.

Paphos is a great big open air archaeological site which is now totally protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is also a perfect place for people watching and taking things slowly, but even those who are energetic will find plenty to do, from quad biking and shark fishing to horse riding and going on safari.

When someone mentions après ski, visions of fondue, ski stags and ski hens come to mind. When the skiing is done for the day, it is time to unwind if not party. From renowned restaurants to all-night bars, here is a brief rundown of where to find resorts popular for their après ski facilities.

Austrian beer tastes better after a long day of schussing down the slopes, so it is no wonder that the Austrians rank highly for their après ski. Although après ski is a French term, the Austrians are credited for making the words an event rather a simple phrase. One of the most celebrated après ski locations is St Anton in western Austria.

If a more relaxed atmosphere is needed, Italy is the place to go, but there are places all over Italy known for their après ski. Canazei (Dolomites), Livigno (near the Swiss border), and then there’s Courmayeur at the base of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe.   

The Colorado Rockies is full of world-famous resorts like Vail and Aspen where a star-studded après ski mingling with Hollywood’s finest is highly likely. Both resorts are known for their award-winning restaurants as well as their award-winning clientele.

Finally there is France.  Chamonix, apart from being one of France’s oldest ski resorts, it is often heralded for having the best après ski.  With a wide variety of foods, from the standard fondue to Indian curries, activities include nightclubs and a casino.
 
For some people, the fun to be had après ski is an important consideration when it comes to making the final choice of location.

Mexico is fairly new as a popular tourist destination, with previously a few locales like Acapulco the effective preserve of the rich and famous. Now, Mexico is starting to open up to the general public, who find its natural beauties largely unspoilt and its people second to none in their friendliness and approachability.

With stunningly beautiful landscapes, magnificent beaches, great sporting opportunities like river rafting and a fascinating history in the shape of ancient pyramids and Aztec ruins, it’s easy to see why Mexico is proving so alluring.

Renting a villa in Mexico is the best way to explore the many attractions this unique country has to offer. Mexico is opening up just as cheap flights, travel websites and a growing taste for independent travel have transformed the industry, and holidaymakers are tailoring their trips down to the last detail rather than opting for a full package including flights and hotel. Freedom and flexibility are the bywords in modern travel, and renting villas in Mexico has never been easier. You’ll want to travel around and use your rental villa as a base, coming and going as you please.

Whether you’re into exploring Mexico’s Aztec heritage in ruins and museums, lazing on sandy beaches, looking for great night life or simply getting to know a lovely, friendly people, renting a villa will place it all at your fingertips and enable you to enjoy your Mexican holiday at your own frenetic or leisurely pace, whichever you prefer.

The city of Marseille is a bustling French metropolis with well over a million residents.  It is now the second largest city in France, having recently passed Lyon in the middle of the 1990’s for second place.  Additionally, it is France’s busiest international port of entry.  Oftentimes referred to as the New Orleans of France, Marseille is alive with activities, diverse culture, and entertainment venues.  Alexandre Dumas once referred to this city as the “meeting place of the entire world.”

Founded by the ancient Greeks, Marseilles was once witness to a number of devastating wars and mass destruction.  However, it is now the crossroads of global traffic comprised of numerous unique sights and sounds.  And don’t forget about the tasty French cuisine.  Although some slum areas have arisen due to the city’s rapid population growth, Marseilles is a charming city filled with allure and elegance.  The Vieux Port (Old Harbour) is especially colourful, which helps to offset the dreariness of the industrial docks which are located nearby.

Lodging in and around the city of Marseille is plentiful.  Apartments, condos, hotels, and French villas are everywhere and you can find some excellent values by doing a little bit of research online.  Additionally, a harbour cruise may be in the offing as part of your holiday agenda as well.  However, you want to remember that the port of Marseille is in a highly industrialised area so choose your water excursion wisely.  Finally, Marseille is in striking distance of Turin, Italy – a favourite holiday skiing destination in winter.

Tour operators encourage holidaymakers to go to the Algarve region with cheap deals at hotels, holiday apartments and golf centres, and if cost is the only criteria then you are onto a winner. But discerning travellers who don’t like to be herded together, and who want an authentic Portuguese experience should consider renting holiday accommodation in less well known areas.

Try searching the magical ‘castle route’ of Alentejo, the scenic Lisbon coast, or the ancient towns and landscapes of the north for your Portugal villa rental. From Lisbon or Porto airport you can access the real Portugal that most visitors never experience. Any extra effort in reaching these areas is rewarded by cheap holiday villas and apartments, and views to die for. With a little browsing through holiday accommodation websites, you can find stone cottages and holiday villas, surrounded by vineyards and close to glorious empty beaches.

Even the popular Algarve region has some tranquil oases if you avoid the major resorts. Whitewashed Portuguese villas sit high up in the hills and nestle in quiet villages or estates in the countryside, but you will need a car if you want to get out and about. They make a perfect base from which to visit the area’s famous golf courses and sample the hustle and bustle of Vilamoura, Albufeira, Portimao and Lagos.  If you head east from Faro airport towards the Spanish border, the coastal town of Tavira is still charming, unspoilt, and blessed with miles of glorious beaches.

For a relaxing holiday, where you are guaranteed to get plenty of fresh sea air and the chance to take in the sights and delights of multiple locations across a large region in just a week or two, a cruise on a luxury ocean liner is the ultimate choice.

Cruise companies vary substantially in terms of what they offer in their cruise deals, but many are ‘all inclusive’, meaning that food, drink and board is all included in the upfront price. It is worth noting, however, that you will need to take sufficient extra cash or traveller’s cheques along with you, as you will need to pay for day excursions and any extras, such as activities and souvenirs. Passengers can select adult-only cruises and also choose from a number of different accommodation suites – inside cabins are less expensive than outside cabins (which have a view of the sea). Some of these ‘outside cabins’ might be described as ‘deluxe’ or ‘superior’, and some have pricey extras such as a balcony, a Jacuzzi, an extra large bed or even butler service.

One day you might be bartering in a market in the Canary Islands, the next day you could be floating out at sea, perhaps enjoying a glass of champagne in the ship’s bar. There are many cruises specifically tailored for families, with activities to keep children occupied while parents are free to choose what to do for a few hours – perhaps a pampering session in the spa and treatment room on board the ship. When night falls, each ship offers its guests a range of on-board entertainment, from themed parties to cabaret and comedy acts, from classical concerts to quizzes, from dance competitions to movie screenings.

Routes around the East Mediterranean might stop at Athens, Cairo, Istanbul and Malta. Other popular Mediterranean ports include Cannes, Barcelona, Crete, Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Ibiza, Florence, Tenerife, St Tropez, Casablanca Morocco, Sardinia and Madeira. Every cruise company has a unique fleet of ships serving a choice of different routes. So from admiring the yachts of the rich and famous in Monaco or the Cote d’Azur to admiring the classical art and architecture of Italy’s historic Florence, whatever your preferred choice of route in the Mediterranean, a cruise holiday could provide the experience of a lifetime.

Considered by many to be one of the most interesting, beautiful and romantic destinations in the world, Venice is one of the major cities in Italy, which sees travellers coming in year after year on cheap flights from a variety of destinations.

The city has remained largely unchanged over the last 600 years, which adds to the exotic flavour and nature of it. And while the city has decayed somewhat since its original heyday, it is still one of the major reasons for cheap flights to Italy every year and its romantic charm brings visitors in all year-round.

Venice is a place that invites utter relaxation and regardless of where you are headed once you are finished with your vacation in the city, you are sure to be completely refreshed and replenished. By the time visitors get on their flights to London, flights to Aberdeen or flights to Damascus and other destinations around the world, their worries and cares will have been stripped away by the unique charm of Venice.

This is the only completely pedestrian city in the world; there are no cars. This is mostly because there are no streets, but instead there are plenty of waterways stretching between the main islands. Bear in mind that high summer is one of the worst times to book cheap flights to Venice, as the humidity and heat can cause fairly stagnant smells and an overall unpleasantness for the unwary traveller due to the lagoon. But outside of the peak summer months this is still one of the most romantic cities in the world to book cheap flights to.

Who wouldn’t love an Italian holiday?  The romance, the scenery, the history, and of course the food, make spending a week in Italy the perfect way to relax and unwind.  Unfortunately, thousands of other travellers are thinking of the same idea.  If you want to experience the charm and magic of Italy without the tourist crush, consider renting a holiday home.

Renting holiday apartments in Italy is an affordable alternative to traditional hotel or resort accommodation.  For roughly the same cost as conventional lodging you can stay in a beautifully appointed private residence with all the comforts of home.  You’ll enjoy fully furnished living quarters, spacious bedrooms, self-catering facilities, flat screen television, DVD player, stereo, and internet access.  Never spend another holiday in a cramped hotel room!

You’ll find holiday cottages in nearly every major Italian destination and a few out of the way places, as well.  Tuscany, Sardinia, Campania, Lake Como, Sicily, Umbria, no matter where you want to go, or what you hope to see, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for with Italian holiday rentals.

There are so many different types of properties available that you’ll return to Italy again and again, never taking the same holiday twice.  Rent a holiday cottage on a working farm in Marina di Grosseto, a seaside flat in Porto Rotondo, or a luxurious villa in Anacapri.  From small apartments that sleep two to grand manors suitable for family reunions, the possibilities are truly endless. 

If you want something different from your holiday accommodation, then holiday homes in Italy are an excellent alternative.

Budget airline have aircraft that are not fully utilised during the winter months and because of this they are offering deals that enable us to have a weekend skiing just like our continental neighbours, Eurostar also has fantastic offers too. A quick weekend away to the ski slopes is no longer difficult and your ski holiday specialist will be able to offer some really great ski deals at prices that are mouth watering and make you wonder how it can be done! There are loads of ski resorts that are easily accessible form most places in the UK, but naturally if you live in the south east of England, you are that bit nearer and closer to the train operator.

Only an hour from Geneva airport, Chamonix has lots of modestly priced accommodation with short stay bookings accepted as the norm. The terrain is varied and boasts fabulous views of peaks and glaciers incorporating the Mont Blanc Massif. Davos is a huge ski area which is shared with Klosters, just down the valley, with some excellent long runs of up to eight miles. Easy to get to from Zurich airport and plenty of weekend rooms available.

Weekend deals are naturally confined to Europe and are split between some of the best resorts in France, Switzerland, or Italy. With Geneva and Sion airports being the closest to the Alpine region, you can usually be only one hour away from the resort and that weekend skiing experience.