The Culture Bank

When looking for holiday rentals, the classic portrayal of a chalet in Switzerland is as the stereotypical idyllic winter vacation venue. Little picturesque wooden houses perched on mountainous slopes with plenty of ski runs on the doorstep. Traditionally these self-catering destinations provide a base for the ski set during the cold months but Switzerland can also be an exciting summer destination.

Many of the chalets in Switzerland are well equipped with large kitchens, comfortable beds, romantic open fires and hot tubs. Normally you are blessed with panoramic views of the Alpine mountains, fir lined hillsides or steep sided gorges. More often than not chalets can sleep between four and ten people although there are larger complexes and multiple chalet hotels available too.

The summer months offer glorious walks though flower-strewn pastures, reminiscent of the Sound of Music or Heidi, and Switzerland is also famous for its many deep glacial lakes and valleys where tourists can avail of some outstanding hiking trips, fishing or canoeing. Visitors can also take in the sights on offer in the university towns of Basel and Geneva. Both these destinations are full of historic buildings, interesting museums and galleries as well as lines of elegant shops and boutiques.

With the mountain lakes and pastures of central Switzerland, the ski runs and slopes of the Southern Alps and the medieval towns along the foothills of the Jura Mountains, there is a lot to experience when you rent holiday chalets in Switzerland.

The Royal Academy is an independent, privately funded organisation led by a group of artists and architects dedicated to promoting the creation and appreciation of visual arts through education, exhibition, and intelligent debate.  Each member of the Academy is a practicing painter, sculptor, engraver, printmaker, draughtsman, or architect that has been elected by his or her peers to represent the greater cause of the arts in London.

The Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition has become one of the most anticipated exhibitions in the art world.  Founded on the original principles of the Royal Academy—“to mount an annual exhibition open to all artists of distinguished merit”—the Summer Exhibition is meant to help finance the education of promising young artists enrolled in the Royal Academy Schools.  The show has been held consecutively, without interruption, every year since 1769 and attracts more than 10,000 pieces that have been carefully selected by the Royal Academy board.

The Royal Academy’s permanent collection includes the works of past and present Academy members, as well as some of the best fine-art resources in Britain.  The collection has benefitted from some truly incredible bequests including the Michelangelo Tondo that can be seen in the Sackler Wing of Galleries.  Free guided tours of the John Madejski Fine Rooms allow visitors to view some of the highlights of the Academy’s collection.

Art lovers should not hesitate to book London hotels in the area, as the Royal Academy of Arts is not to be missed.

One of the greatest secret destinations in Italy is the central, landlocked region around Perugia. This mountainous wooded landscape is known as the “Green Heart of Italy” and with just cause. More than 70% of the area is still covered in forests and woodlands and it offers a wonderful outdoor adventure to tourists prepared to traveling inland.

There are plenty of holiday rentals in the area as many of the former tobacco farms that once covered the area have been converted into beautiful traditional style, holiday homes in Italy. These large stone built farmhouses, with their oak beams and traditional tiled roofs, make an ideal base from which to explore the countryside and sample the local cuisine.

Rooms in these houses are often vast, large kitchens and ample bedrooms, normally all with en-suite bathroom facilities. Living rooms are equally as spacious and regularly include the feature of a large fireplace. Gardens are wonderfully scented places, full of thyme, rosemary and lavender bushes, while most villas include a swimming pool or hot tub as well.

The area offers excellent trips to Assisi or the provincial capital of Perugia, but the best excitement can be had in the little, often less traveled locations like Gubbio, Orivieto or Anghiari, all jewels in Italy’s crown. The main tourist attractions are equally as accessible with Florence an hour and a half away, Sienna an hour and Rome two hours; and all easily reached on the main motorway.

France is an extremely popular place for those looking for skiing holidays as it is easily accessible by air from for all major European cities. This makes finding ski deals easy and often very affordable. With so many low cost airlines operating these days, skiing holidays are no longer thought of as just holidays for the elite, and there are resorts with packages available to suit all budgets.

The oldest ski resort in France is Chamonix; it is also the largest of all resorts for skiing in France. Perfectly situated in the Chamonix Valley in the shadow of the largest of the mountains in the Alps, Mont Blanc, the resort can cater for all levels of expertise, with runs for the beginner right up to the more adventure-filled off-piste trails. 

Families will find that there is also something to suit them; there are qualified instructors for those who need a little guidance on the slopes and also the opportunity to try snowboarding.  Even the non-skier has no need to miss out as there are many activities available to keep them entertained. These include dog sledding, tennis and mountaineering.  Those who are looking for something a little more sedate can also go swimming in the indoor heated pools. 

Ski deals can be found quickly after a search on the internet, and even the most exclusive resorts may have accommodation to suit lower budgets. Many resort packages include meals, ski lift passes and some limited ski instruction. Additional charges may include equipment and clothing rental.

Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is a fascinating city to visit.  Although the city is dirty and crowded and the traffic is bad, Cairo has many interesting ancient relics and attractions to view.  One area to explore is Coptic Cairo which is the oldest part of the city and has been inhabited for 2000 years.  Ancient churches, cobbled roads and Roman relics make this an interesting place to visit.  Egypt’s oldest synagogue, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, is in this area as is the Hanging Church which is the oldest Christian church in Cairo.  The Coptic Museum has ancient artefacts on display. Islamic Cairo has several mosques including Ibn Tulun, one of the largest mosques in the world and the Islamic Art Museum includes displays of religious art. 

Another unique museum is the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. It has many relics from the ancient pyramids such as mummies and sarcophagi.  Some of the most fascinating objects are those from the tomb of Tutankhamen.  The Pyramids of Giza are considered to be one of the ancient wonders of the world. The largest and oldest of the pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Cheops, was built around 2600BC.  It was built to be the tomb for the sarcophagus of the Pharaoh Cheops.   There are also several smaller pyramids and a Sphinx which is believed to have been built to guard the tombs. 

Flights to Cairo are available from the United Kingdom.  Cheap tickets can be found by searching online ticket search engines.

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.