The Culture Bank

The island of Antigua in the West Indies is one of the premier destinations for luxury holidays in the Caribbean. Christopher Columbus named the island when it was taken over by Europeans in 1493. Antigua translates as ‘ancient’ in Spanish and Columbus named the island after the icon of St Mary the Ancient in Seville Cathedral. The island is around 14 miles long and 11 miles wide with a population of around 85,000.

Many visitors flock to Antigua every year to enjoy the amazing weather, luxurious accommodation and brilliantly white, sandy beaches. With over 350 beaches on the island there is no shortage of space for visitors to relax and enjoy the picturesque views of the Caribbean. Antigua holidays are very popular with water sports enthusiasts, with a great variety of activities on offer including windsurfing, snorkelling, diving and kite surfing. In addition to water sports there are many other outdoor pursuits to enjoy including hiking, cycling, horse-riding and golf. Cricket is an important sport in Antigua and there are frequent games for those who like to watch the game being played. 

With an average annual temperature which rarely drops below 20°c, Antigua is a perfect destination to visit at any time of the year. There are a number of celebrations and events held on the island throughout the year including Labour Day in May, the Antigua Carnival in July and Independence Day in November. Visitors can also take a short boat trip to Barbuda to explore the neighbouring island.

A cruise is a wonderful opportunity to get away from it all, or dive right into the chance to get active and invested in the things you are interested in. A lot of people will choose to go on cruise holidays because they are tired and stressed from work, kids, school, and all the daily demands of the normal rat race of a life.
 
This sort of holiday is perfect for those people, because once they step aboard every single thing is taken care of for them.  There is no need to worry about planning where to go or what to do next, because your ship will take you right to the best locations, and the tour directors of the ship will present you with a huge menu list of things you can do there. Or you can just as easily opt to do nothing at all and take a nap in your beautiful cabin or on one of the lounge chairs by the pool, or perhaps disembark the ship and go lie on one of the beautiful beaches nearby.

For other people, they will want to go on cruises for the opposite reason, because a cruise enables them to be able to do a whole lot of different activities in a short amount of time. They could go ziplining and scuba diving one day, snorkel with stingrays and go horseback riding the next. The possibilities are as endless as your energy supply. You can do as much or as little as you want and have a great time.

For visitors of Toronto Canada, getting around the city to see the various sights might seem like a daunting task, but it could be easier than it appears.  Toronto has a vast network of roads, a transit system and rail system that covers the entire city.  Visitors should not have a problem reaching any destination they choose within the city limits, and even attractions a little farther away.

Toronto Transit Commission

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is Toronto’s bus and tube system, better known in Canada as a subway.  The system covers the whole city, and even ventures into the adjoining city of Mississauga, so visitors may visit attractions nearby.  You may purchase a Day Pass, which gives unlimited rides throughout the city for the entire day.  Additionally, visitors should note there is a bus taking passengers from Pearson International Airport to the downtown core, making travel into the city much easier.

Rail Travel

Another way to get around the city and neighbouring areas is to take the GO Train.  These double decker trains carry hundreds of passengers each day, with the main destination of Union Station in the downtown core.  Visitors wishing to see nearby Niagara Falls may also board a train during the summer months and visit one of the natural wonders of the world.

PATH

Toronto has a unique underground shopping system.  Known as the PATH, visitors can travel for miles underground avoiding busy surface streets while shopping at well-known shops.

Winter sports, particularly skiing, have never been so popular.  One of the best places to enjoy skiing is Austria.  There are flights out to Austria from airports throughout the United Kingdom.  Additionally, there are some great deals available for those wanting to spend a holiday at a great ski resort.

Austria has some fabulous ski resorts.  Among them is Alpbach with its exciting pistes, Axamer Lizum, a traditional ski village, and Bad Hofgastein, famed for its spas and relaxation opportunities as well as its skiing.

Glacier skiing has also become very popular, with visitors able to take to the slopes during late spring and summer.  The Stubai Glacier in Tyrol enables skiing between October and June and is close enough to Innsbruck to allow holidaymakers to use this major city’s amenities.

Accommodation for skiers in Austria is excellent, with a range of hotels and chalets available.  An example is the Chalet St Martin in St Anton.  It sleeps 23 people, and is just over a mile from the town, and easily accessible by bus.

Entertainment after a day of skiing is great for visitors, and Austria offers some of the best après-ski in Europe.  There are bars, restaurants and clubs all geared towards helping winter holidaymakers enjoy themselves in a relaxing and fun atmosphere.

There are many skiing holiday packages to Austria on offer from the UK.  The range allows skiing enthusiasts and beginners to seek out the best value holidays at a time they prefer.

London is renowned for its parks, including Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, Primrose Hill and St James’s to name a few.  Perhaps the jewel in the crown, however, is Kew Gardens.  It may not be the biggest, but Kew has a huge amount to enjoy as well as being a world famous research centre and educational institute.  It attracts over two million visitors every year, being popular with tourists and Londoners alike.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to use the official title are located near Richmond south of the river Thames. They became a fully-fledged botanical garden in 1840 and have grown from there.  With its numerous palm houses, conservatories, ornamental gardens, ponds and fine collection of trees, one visit to Kew is rarely enough.  It’s also enjoyable all year round and the landscape can be at its most magnificent in winter.

Popular features include the Alpine House recreating the climate and plant life of the Alpine Slopes, the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure in the Temperate House, and the wet and dry tropical climates of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.  New features have been added in the last decade, including a treetop walkway and the Sackler Crossing Bridge made of granite and bronze.

Kew includes several cafés and restaurants, and volunteers provide free guided tours.  There are also regular exhibitions, talks and workshops.  The gardens are open every day from 9.30am, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and various membership schemes and standard day tickets are available.  Certain buildings are also available to hire for weddings and special events.

Situated in the Indian Ocean, comprising around 1,200 islands and enjoying a tropical climate, the Maldives is the perfect year-round luxury holiday destination.  All islands sit atop an atoll chain, crossing the equator, and are protected by spectacular coral reefs – each island has a crystal-clear, turquoise lagoon fringed by its own reef. With 99% of the Maldives area being water, activities are, understandably, centred on and around the sea.  White sandy beaches invite relaxation under a year-round average of 30°C sunshine.  The Maldives manages tourism very closely; allowing only limited resort development, thereby maintaining its reputation for exclusivity.      

Maldives holidays offer more than relaxing beach getaways. Visitors have a wide choice of water sports, including scuba diving or snorkelling and exploring the superb underwater scenery. The Maldives boasts one of the world’s least exploited diving opportunities and qualified diving instructors are on hand to provide expert guidance. In addition, sailing, windsurfing and big game fishing are also options.

Organised night-fishing trips are available to enhance a Maldives holiday. The successful fishing party can retire to a deserted island, where the catch is prepared, cooked and enjoyed in tranquil, moonlit surroundings.

The history of the Maldives dates back to the second century, and has a culture based on religion and superstition. Influenced by international trade and colonialism, the Maldives embraces the effects of the modern world, while retaining the island’s identity and tradition.  The capital, Malé is a busy centre with shopping, restaurants and many cultural artefacts.

Its world-class hotels, coupled with a romantic charm, make the Maldives a destination of choice for a luxury holiday.

One of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays that you can experience is going on a cruise. There is nothing like being on board a ship and riding the waves.  Taking a cruise is simple, and you can book it with your travel agent who will help you to decide where to go.

Information for Beginners

For a traveller who has never been on a cruise before, there could be some misconceptions.  For example, many inexperienced travellers believe that most people who take cruises get bored, seasick or never leave the ship the entire time.  These assumptions are completely unfounded.  For travellers prone to seasickness, a river cruise is the best bet, while anyone looking for an adventure can travel on a ship with an on board casino and nightclub. 

Cruises Are for All Ages

A further misconception of cruises is that only older people go on them.  In fact, many cruise lines cater to families, for example the Disney Cruise Line.  Other cruises offer great nightlife, and adventurous off ship activities like surfing, kayaking and diving and shopping trips.  On board many ships, travellers will find rock-climbing, swimming pools, ice-skating and nightly shows that will entertain any crowd.

Departure Times and Ports of Call

Many people believe they will miss out on nightlife onshore by cruising, and it is true that most lines stay in port during the day.  There are lines however that do the opposite, docking at night and sailing by day.  This means that night owls can enjoy the clubs and dining onshore. 

People who reside in the United Kingdom have a distinct advantage over many other travellers who are looking for cruise deals in 2011. Almost every cruise line recommends an early arrival in a port city, often two days prior to a ship leaving the dock. Imagine the luxury of driving straight from home down to the secure car park at the pier or a nearby harbour. Attendants park the car in a safe and secure location then they take the luggage straight aboard the cruise liner.

Southampton ranks as the busiest port in the United Kingdom and most major cruises have a presence here. Many cruise vessels head for the Baltic Sea, the Canary Islands, the Mediterranean regions and the Norwegian Fjords. This is also a busy port of call for cruises headed to the United States, Canada and the South Pacific.

Located on one of the most popular stretches of coastline in the world, the White Cliffs of Dover overlook the busy Dover harbour where 18 major cruise lines operate shipping routes to major European destinations.

Motorcars or trains from the north easily reach Portsmouth, in the south of England. Expect to see polar adventure ships set sail to Iceland and Greenland, while a small luxury cruiser may be heading out on a Caribbean cruise.

Passengers cruising out of Newcastle will enjoy the newly renovated waterfront. This is one port where an early arrival gives travellers time to enjoy the public art displays and charming local eateries. Departing from this northern harbour can save a full day at sea as opposed to leaving from one of the southern ports.

All-inclusive holidays are available to many almost any destination, but most commonly to established tourist areas.

There are positive and negative associations with all-inclusive holiday. One of the biggest advantages is that the price is known from the start and there are no additional bills at the end of the holiday for food or drink, so such holidays are appealing to people who tend to overspend. All-inclusive holidays can be very relaxing, because the traveller does not have to waste any time finding a hotel room or a spot on the beach. Even better, there is no need to exchange money or calculate foreign currency in order to purchase drinks or meals.

The dining arrangements at many all-inclusive resorts are usually varied, with both buffet and a la carte restaurants being available, while many resorts also have cafes and grills. There also tend to be numerous bars, offering tropical drinks and beer, all of which are included in the package price.

Another positive aspect of all-inclusive resort hotels is that you get to get to know the staff well, as you see them regularly while enjoying your meals, drinks and activities at the resort. Many holidaymakers feel reassured about their safety within the resort grounds. 

There are, of course, some negative aspects to all-inclusive holidays. The food can become repetitive and predictable; there may be few choices on the menu. Many resorts restrict the brands of alcohol served or offer only local brands. There is often little opportunity to sample regional fare or mingle with the locals.

Consider your options carefully before deciding if an all-inclusive holiday is right for you. 

Perhaps you have spent months thinking about your ski holiday. You have spent weeks trawling the internet for ski deals. You have spent days preparing your wardrobe. You have spent hours getting used to the feel of skis on your feet, while your Austrian ski instructor has been yelling “bend zee knees!” over and over again.  None of that matters now. It all comes down to this single moment.

You are standing at the top of your chosen resort’s nursery slope, which will be no more than ten metres of gentle gradient. You see little children in the distance, moving downhill with an agility and confidence of which you can only dream. You are focusing on your stance. Your ankles, knees and pelvis are all slightly flexed and at the ready. You are an athlete. A finely tuned machine.

You push off with your poles, remembering to keep your eyes in the direction you are travelling. Then, swoosh. You are now at the bottom of the hill and have come to a stop as you have met up with the gentle uphill gradient, placed there to bring you to a standstill. You’ve done it!

Next you will learn how to control your speed and direction and to stop at a place of your choosing. Once you master that, you will be ready to hit the beginner trails by yourself, and so your skiing life begins. You will soon learn why people return year after year, and will find yourself looking for more cheap ski deals as soon as you return to office. Welcome to the world of skiing!