The Culture Bank

Travelling to Vietnam is a feast for the senses and taking a few days to journey down the Mekong Delta is an unforgettable experience.  You will find a bevy of guesthouses and bars on the way, so you can literally take your time to soak up your surroundings and enjoy the hospitality of the local people, who have worked by the river and local rice fields for generations.

Among the little villages, you will often find small tourist agencies where you can arrange a day trip to an orchid farm, jungle areas, markets or nature reserves.  Also not far away from the river itself are some wonderful retreats, such as Phu Quoc, which is an island covered in trees with white sandy beaches with a good range of both budget and luxury accommodation.  Ben Tre and My Tho are quieter islands on the river, where you can try out local fish delicacies and enjoy evenings spent swinging in a hammock drinking rice wine – if you dare!

Of course, the floating markets are one of the most striking things about this South Vietnamese region.  With a bustle of colours, smells and noise as people try to sell their wares before the day gets too warm, this is a captivating sight even if you decide not to buy anything.

The Mekong Delta in Vietnam is often used as a route to Cambodia, another fascinating country with a fantastic culture.  It is safer to travel in groups if you are moving on to another destination.  Just remember to avoid drinking tap water locally in case you upset your stomach; have bottled water instead.

Cruises can provide a relaxing adventure on the ocean, and the United Kingdom is served by some of the best cruise lines in the world.  Travellers have the option to choose from adventure filled holidays, to more relaxing and leisure filled trips.  Here is just a sample of what lines UK travellers can choose from when planning their holiday.

Luxury Cruises

Travellers looking for a little luxury in their life might enjoy cruises offered by Silversea Cruises, Regent Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cruises or Oceana Cruises.  These ships travel the entire world to some of the best destinations, such as Rome, Alaska’s snow-capped mountains and Venice.  Many of these deals offer pre-sail and post-sail hotel stays, and many provide off-ship offers at most ports of call.

Great Deal Cruises

Travellers wanting a good deal on a cruise without losing out on the luxury of a beautiful ship can choose from packages from Royal Caribbean or Disney Cruise Lines.  These lines offer great prices and packages suited to any traveller or entire family.  Both lines offer nightly entertainment, geared to both families and adults, and have various dining options on board. 

Package Deals

Travellers interested in package deals might want to look at Cunard Cruises for some of the best package deals around.  Most packages include a hotel stay before and after the cruise.  Additionally, most packages will accommodate any special requests such as visiting certain attractions onshore. 

The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa in Iceland is known throughout the world.  Not surprisingly, it’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, and few people miss the opportunity to visit this natural wonder and enjoy bathing in the warm, mineral-rich water famous for its soothing properties on the skin.  The positive effects of the water are further enhanced by the beauty of the natural surroundings.

The Blue Lagoon sits inside a lava field and holds around six million litres of geothermal seawater.  The temperature of the water in the bathing area is around 37-39°C, and rich in minerals like silica and sulphur that provide its unique composition.  Fresh water is constantly pumped into the lagoon with the water completely renewed in 40 hours.  Fortunately, the spa is easily accessible, as it is only 20 minutes drive from Keflavík International Airport and 40 minutes drive from Reykjavik city centre.  Taxis and buses are available to take visitors to the spa.

As well as bathing, there are plenty of other facilities at the Blue Lagoon including a waterfall, sauna, two geothermal steam baths and a relaxation area.  White silica mud is provided free of charge to use as a body cleanser, and various treatments and massages are also available.  The Lagoon Bar offers light refreshments, while accommodation is available at the nearby Blue Lagoon Clinic Hotel.

Standard entry including towel is 35 euros, with other packages available. The Blue Lagoon also has an extensive range of skincare and beauty products that can be purchased in the gift shop or ordered online through their website.

There are many reasons to visit Las Vegas.  Try your hand at roulette or blackjack tables; stay in some of the worlds’ largest hotels; enjoy a spectacular show; check out the endless amusement arcades; shop till you drop; and even get married.  In fact, Las Vegas is a non-stop riot of colour, noise and neon, and there’s nowhere quite like it for a bit of escapism.  Aside from all that, the city is also close to amazing landscapes and natural phenomena which can easily be visited as part of a holiday to the area.

Las Vegas is located in Clark County in the state of Nevada.  The area has a subtropical desert climate, and the city is surrounded by dry and rocky desert with mountains in the distance.  Perhaps the most spectacular sight, however, is the Hoover Dam which sits across the Black Canyon where the Colorado River flows.  This has become a major tourist attraction in recent years and visitors can also enjoy a journey down the river by raft.

As the dam controls the flow of water, this is by no means a dangerous sport.  Children and senior citizens are welcome, and the calm water provides a unique opportunity to experience the splendour and wildlife of the Black Canyon.  The journey starts at the foot of the Hoover Dam and ends at Willow Beach around 12 miles downstream.  It usually takes over five hours including three hours on the water and a stop for lunch (packed lunches are provided.)

Black Cannon River Adventures operate a variety of rafts which include tour guides.  Individual trips can also be arranged.

The Caribbean brings to mind warm, tropical islands, with clear blue seas and unspoilt beaches, yet in truth the region has much more to offer.  This series of islands provides the visitor with choices of holiday themes from relaxed through to adventure.  Coupled with diverse cultural experiences, the Caribbean is an exceptional destination for couples, families or the single traveller to enjoy luxury holidays.

The region benefits from a tropical climate where temperatures range throughout the year from 28-31°C, cooled by a refreshing sea breeze and a dry season from January through to April.

Holiday Choices

Caribbean holidays are ideal for travellers seeking activity or a more relaxed approach. You can go diving or hiking, enjoy a round of golf, try sailing or fishing, as well as explore by horseback or 4×4, or simply soak up the sun. A vibrant nightlife is on hand for you to enjoy, complete with clubs, casinos and shopping.

Many couples choose the Caribbean for their wedding venue or honeymoon destination, in order to experience the very best of luxury holidays.  The Caribbean offers an enormous choice of Luxury hotels and resorts on the main islands of Antigua, Barbados, Grenada and St Lucia.

Those taking a Caribbean holiday will also be able to sample the culture and history of the islands. After Columbus visited for the first time, thereby ending the flat Earth theory, the Caribbean enjoyed a trade boom. Culturally influenced by English, French and Spanish explorers, and by the African and Asian peoples who arrived later, an extremely diverse cuisine emerged throughout the region.

Visiting

The region is easily reached from the UK, with most airports offering non-stop flights.

No matter how many times you visit Paris, France, there is always something new to see.  For a truly breathtaking sight, head upstairs inside Sainte Chapelle, and admire the 15 magnificently designed stained glass panels.  These panels were special made by Louis IX, and tell more than 1,100 stories.

To see Les Égouts de Paris, or the Eiffel Tower, is often a reason many people go to Paris.  Even though it is often crowded, it is still worth seeing.  During the day, ride to the very top and enjoy a  spectacular 360-degree view of the city. At night, marvel as the tower sparkles under the Paris skies. 

Paris is a wonderful place to take in a live show.  If you are looking for great night-time entertainment, Moulin Rouge offers a world class Parisian cabaret.  This show comes complete with a full dinner and half bottle of wine.

Do not miss out on a day of traditional French food and shopping.  Make your way to Rue Cler, and enjoy an endless pedestrian heaven of edible delights.  This bustling area of Paris is filled with everything food-related, including French baguettes, tarts and pastries, fresh fruit, wheels of cheese, chocolate, and crêpes.

Art lovers will want to make time to visit the home of Claude Monet.  Located along the Seine Valley drive, visitors can view the large collection of Japanese impressions, then tour through his famous garden, which was the inspiration for many of his most famous paintings.

The island of Grenada is located in the Caribbean Sea, to the Northwest of Trinidad and Tobago. Commonly called the ‘Island of Spice’ thanks to the numerous nutmeg groves, Grenada is one of the world’s largest exporters of the spice. Grenada is a member of the Commonwealth realm, after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. The island has a population of around 110,000.

Grenada is a popular destination for luxury holidays, with plenty of opulent hotels around the island, allowing visitors to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery of the area. Grenada holidays are characterised by sandy beaches along the coasts of the island, with rainforests, scenic lakes, waterfalls and volcano craters when travelling inland. Excursions through the rainforest are very popular, while many prefer to explore the seas around the island. Snorkelling is a popular activity, and advance divers can take advantage of one of the local dive centres and explore some of the shipwrecks located off the coast of Grenada.

The capital city of St George’s is located in a bay that was formed by a crater of an extinct volcano, and is a lively tourist destination with excellent dining and shopping available to visitors. Used as a port of call for cruise ships and with many celebrities visiting the area, St George’s is very tourist friendly and locals are welcoming towards visitors in the area. The warm year-round climate makes Grenada an ideal choice of holiday destination.

Caribbean cruises are a blast for the whole family because there is something for everyone to do. Mum can take it easy, just lounging around in a comfortable lounge chair with a drink in hand and being waited on by the cabana boy. She can catch up on her latest beach reading material and occasionally look up to see brilliantly beautiful sparkling turquoise waters splashing in gentle waves against the pure, soft white or golden sand. If she gets too warm, she can lay her book down and stroll down to the water to have a dip and cool off and work on her suntan for a little while before returning to the shade of the umbrella.

Meanwhile, Dad can take off with the kids and go have a little more action packed sort of Caribbean adventure. Maybe they will go ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) riding or perhaps horseback riding on the beach. In addition to getting to ride along the seaside, some of the destinations that Caribbean cruises visit, such as the Grand Cayman islands, have shore excursions where you can even ride horses in the ocean.

This sort of excursion definitely makes for a really memorable holiday experience and some truly amazing photos. The best part is that everyone gets to do something that is fun for them but still be together.  Caribbean cruises truly have something for everyone.

The inland city of Yerevan is the capital of the Republic of Armenia and is noted in the region for the extensive recreational parks available in the city.  The Yerevan Zoo, for example, has been in operation since 1940.  The zoo provides homes for 260 species of animals and contains over 1500 individual animals.  It is one of the largest tourist attractions in Yerevan and draws visitors from throughout the nation as well as from surrounding countries.

Another huge tourist draw is Waterworld, a water park that has recently been upgraded with an indoor section so that it can stay open even during the colder winter months.  Here, tourists can enjoy not just pools, but also water toboggans and Jacuzzis.  When guests have been thoroughly drenched for long enough, they can relax in the bars and restaurants that dot the complex.  For tourists who truly adore water parks, Waterworld also features a hotel that will keep them close to the attraction day and night.

Other kinds of recreation are available at Play City, an entertainment centre situation in the Avan district of the city.  Here, tourists can enjoy an evening of bowling while their children are racing around the go-kart ring or playing video games in the arcade.  The complex also offers visitors a chance to try their hand at competing in paint-ball contests; for the more sedate, there is also a cinema showing a selection of movies.

Just south of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Mayan Riviera – also known as the Riviera Maya – is a 120-kilometre stretch of Mexican coastline that offers sandy beaches, gorgeous scenery and weather, and ancient ruins.  It is a stunning location whether you are looking for relaxation or adventure.

Beaches

The beaches and resorts are the top draw here, and they are plentiful.  Visitors can swim and sunbathe, or get involved in a wide variety of water sports.  Many of the beaches, such as Paamul and Playa del Carmen, have facilities for renting equipment.  There are reefs off the shore in most places that are good for diving and snorkelling, and many beaches feature excellent conditions for windsurfing, kite boarding, and surfing.

Ecology and Archaeology

The spectacular surroundings to be found in this part of Mexico have inspired a considerable amount of ecotourism.  There are several parks where visitors can enjoy nature, and some of them also include ancient Mayan ruins.  Xcaret showcases the local wildlife at its refuge and also exhibits Mayan culture and history with traditional dance shows, archaeological sites, and a recreated Mayan village.  Xel-ha is a natural aquarium where visitors can swim, scuba dive, and snorkel with dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine life.  Tres Rios Nature Park extends deep into the rainforest and is a large protected reserve.  Here tourists can see the local wildlife in its natural setting while kayaking on one of the three rivers that converge in park.

For those who want a beach holiday combined with history and natural wonders, the Mayan Riviera is a brilliant choice.