The Culture Bank

Dublin, Ireland’s capital city, is one of the most popular and frequently visited tourist destinations in the country.  Dublin offers visitors a unique mixture of interesting historical and cultural sites to visit – many of which can be traced back to the time of the Vikings and beyond – as well as unique and varied dining and shopping options located throughout the city. 

Interesting attractions

Dublin offers a wealth of interesting historical and cultural attractions.  History buffs can browse through the ancient manuscripts at the Chester Beatty Library, or explore the crypts under the 11th Century Christ Church Cathedral.  The library at Trinity College is where you will find the beautifully illuminated Book of Kells.  The General Post Office building, which was significant in the Easter Rebellion, now houses a museum.

Good places to eat

Dublin has a wealth of different restaurants, serving various types of cuisine.  One unique restaurant option is Surma, an Indian restaurant that serves several vegetarian dishes.  If you like fish and chips, one of the best known options for very generous portions is Leo Burdick Fish and Chips.  If you would like to sample a little bit of everything, stop by the Epicurean Food Hall.

Nightlife

Dublin has no shortage of good pubs.  Stop by the Brazen Head to enjoy a drink in the oldest pub in Dublin, which is something of a local icon.  You can also have an authentic Irish pub experience at Kavanagh’s.  There are also numerous options for those who enjoy the club experience; the Dice Bar attracts a diverse group of partiers on a nightly basis.  Another top club in the city is the Button Factory.

German Christmas markets are excellent places to visit for a day or weekend in the winter to engage in some Christmas shopping, especially if you want unique gifts.  These markets are found in many different cities and towns throughout Germany.  Examples of cities with world-renowned Christmas markets include Nuremberg, Passau, Hannover, and Tübingen.

A lovely atmosphere

A visit to one of these markets is a good way to fully get into the holiday spirit, especially if you have tired of the commercial atmosphere surrounding the festive season in the UK.  The atmosphere at these markets is very traditional, and in most cases yummy snacks including sausages, gingerbread biscuits, and baked apples are offered, along with mulled wine, allowing you to enjoy great food whilst shopping.

What you can buy

In most cases the products that are available at these Christmas markets are handcrafted by local artisans from the surrounding area.  Crib scenes are especially popular, and will make a lovely addition to your Christmas decorations.  Old-fashioned toys, such as marionettes, may also be purchased, providing a fun and unique treat for children; you will want to make certain that you don’t forget about the gingerbread houses.  You will also find a huge selection of candles that will help enhance your holiday décor.

In these days of advertising overload, tour operators are constantly looking at new ways to market their services to potential holidaymakers.  The same goes for airlines, hotels, car hire companies and just about any business connected with the travel industry. The use of email newsletters and social networks has become commonplace in advertising.  They can also work in favour of those searching for cheap holidays 2013.

In simple terms, holidaymakers should sign up for everything that moves.  Nearly all holiday websites have their own email newsletters which are usually good sources for special offers.  Many will also operate Facebook “Like” pages, Twitter accounts and more, all of which they use for promotion.  Email and online marketing are an increasingly important way to keep customers loyal and interested, especially if they get the best prices before anyone else.

Airlines offer the cheapest seats early with newsletter subscribers often being the first to hear about them.  The same goes for hotels. It may be worth joining membership schemes which include hotel discounts. A couple of nights at a lower price and the cost of membership could easily be covered.  It’s also worth signing up to hotel and flight comparison websites as many of these may also offer discounts to subscribers who book through them.  Hotels.com, Booking.com, LateRooms.com, Trivago and the largely popular TripAdvisor are good examples.

If you don’t mind a bulging inbox and have plenty of patience, there is treasure to be found by signing up for this kind of newsletter.

Every year, thousands of people charter yachts in Croatia. There are many advantages to seeing Croatia by sailing up and down the Adriatic coast, plenty of sunshine, tranquil waters and breathtaking scenery.  The cities of Dubrovnik, Zadar, Split, Pula and Biograd are all on the coast, giving sailors a unique view of the towns.

The Kornati Archipelago is a group of uninhabited islands and reefs offering the explorer many inlets with a network of caves, the area is also popular with scuba divers. The Istrian Peninsula is a fascinating region for the yachtsman. It includes the small islands of Krk, Cres and Mali Losinj the Kvarner Bay and many popular resorts.

There are several types of craft to choose from; you can travel by cruiser or if you enjoy the hands-on experience of sailing, a high-performance vessel or even a catamaran. If you are an experienced sailor you can skipper the vessel yourself or relax and let a professional do it. If you charter a motor yacht it will offer more flexibility and speed. A large motor yacht usually includes a crew to help with navigation.

An interesting way of travelling by sea in Croatia is the Gulet. Gulets are authentic replicas of Turkish fishing and trading boats. The vessels are equipped with the latest navigation and a crew.

You can usually arrange to charter a yacht before you leave home. The yacht charter companies in Croatia often have webpages where you simply complete a form to tell them the kind of vessel you require and they will do the rest.

Sandy Lane is a premier destination in the Caribbean for the ultimate in luxury holidaying. Established in 1961 on the popular island of Barbados, this exquisite resort provides unparalleled opportunities for rest and relaxation, a romantic break or a chance to taste the multitude of recreational and spa activities available both at the resort and on the island.

Barbadian hospitality is legendary and Sandy Lane Barbados combines every aspect of a luxury holiday that could be imagined. Rooms and suites have spectacular views onto an azure sea and the resort’s east coast setting giving perfect shelter and endless views of spectacular sunsets. Guests can sit out on the veranda as the sun goes down, sipping exotic cocktails before visiting one of the resort’s four restaurants, providing exceptional cuisine from all over the world.

For many guests a luxury holiday is all about the spa, and Sandy Lane Barbados is generously equipped with treatments from around the world. Wellbeing traditions from the Caribbean and the Far East mix with North American and European therapies. The spa setting is stunning with the marble reception area being the stepping off point for staircases leading the treatment suites and water therapies.

Adventure and exercise are close by with opportunities for all kinds of water sports, including deep sea fishing, tennis, golf and a superbly equipped fitness centre to satisfy the most demanding of athletes. For guests looking for a more relaxed exercise regime there are daily complimentary classes, including Pilates, yoga, spinning and circuits.

When most people picture cruise holidays, they are likely to imagine two weeks sailing in the Caribbean or a tour of the Mediterranean Sea.  While these voyages can be wonderful experiences, there are other more unusual options to be found off the beaten track.  These alternatives can be worth considering for your next holiday.

One trip that offers an amazing experience, with spectacular natural scenery, is a voyage around the Arctic Circle.  You will have the opportunity to spot polar bears as you sail amongst icebergs, beneath the breathtaking Northern Lights.  Ports of call often include fascinating destinations in Norway, Greenland or Alaska.

If the cold does not appeal, another option is to sail around South America. Possible tours include seeing the unique culture of Argentina, partying in Rio de Janeiro and sailing around Cape Horn.  It is even possible to begin your voyage in Europe and stop in at Mediterranean cruise destinations before crossing the ocean to Brazil.

Cruise holidays to Vietnam can also be very rewarding, offering magnificent scenery in the Halong Bay area near Hanoi.  Adventurous travellers can immerse themselves in a completely different culture and explore the sights and sounds that this part of the world has to offer; the experience is sure to be extraordinary.

To the unsuspecting visitor, trying to cross the road in Vietnam is fraught with challenges as the traffic never seems to stop and, although it is getting better, the lights at pedestrian crossings mean little, therefore those on foot need to be on high alert.  Here are some tips for first-time travellers to Vietnam:

The best way to cross the road is to take it easy.  Always look both ways as traffic, especially motorbikes, often travel down the wrong side of the road. 

Wait for a small gap in the oncoming traffic and move slowly but confidently onto the road. 
Keep your eye on the oncoming traffic and walk slowly but surely and the vehicles will move around you.  Motorbike drivers are more forgiving than cars, buses or trucks, so it is best to wait until they have passed. 

In some areas, such as around the Ben Thanh Market, the guards in a green uniform are there to help visitors get safely across the road.  Vietnamese are a caring, sharing society and they somehow make room for everyone.

Although it is easy to walk to many of the key attractions in Ho Chi Minh City, sometimes it is simpler and more comfortable to use public transport.

Options include the public bus, although this is predominately in Vietnamese, or taxis, which are plentiful and very cheap.  Other alternatives include taking a motorbike taxi called a XEOM or hiring a cyclo.

To avoid being overcharged travellers are encouraged to take one of two taxi companies.  Vinasun and Mai Linh are generally more reliable and are less likely to bump their prices up to tourists.  Be aware that there are several taxi companies with names that look remarkably similar.  Sometimes drivers speak English, but in most cases they do not, so be sure to have the destination written down.

A fun way to traverse the city is to take a XEOM, which is a motorbike taxi.  They are easily recognised as they hang around on street corners and often approach visitors.  Negotiate the fee first and be fair and enjoy the ride.  They usually provide a helmet, but if you wish to buy your own, they are readily available and cheap.

A cyclo is like a tricycle where the passenger sits in the front seat, so they have a prime view of all that goes before them.  Be sure to bargain with the driver before sitting down and be clear about where you are going.  They are a fantastic way to experience the sounds and views of the city.

Attaching yourself to skis for the first time is going to be scary. This is a natural reaction as you begin to realise that you are limiting your ability to run and get yourself out of trouble as you normally would. Most people will feel constrained, and some may feel unable to enjoy their very well planned ski holidays. Therefore, you will need to work past this feeling of helplessness in order to take control of your situation.

Take your time with this. Getting used to the idea of a new way of getting around is like learning how to walk all over again. Think how daunting it was when you first got on a bicycle and you should expect the same levels of anxiety when you first learn how to ski. Once you become comfortable with the idea of skiing, the mechanics of it will start to become intuitive.

The first few things your instructor will take you through on the snow will be:
•    Warming up: you will be shown a few techniques. Remember them. Warming up is very important in order to help avoid injury.
•    Walking: this is done by sliding first one ski forward, and then the other.
•    Side stepping: this is done by shifting one ski up the hill followed by the other and making sure your skis are at right angles to the direction of the slope. This is tricky and will be awkward at first, so have fun with the situation and remember to laugh!

This is a lot of work to do before you even start to ski, so make an allowance for the time this will take when planning your ski holidays.

For most people, holidays are a chance to put the everyday stresses and strains of life behind them for a while, or visit parts of the world their lives don’t normally take them to.  They can be expensive, of course, but one alternative if you’re on a tight budget or looking for something different, is to volunteer for a working holiday.  It may not quite as relaxing as the usual week in the sun and often hard work. However, it can be more interesting and rewarding as well as a great way to experience different places and people.

The concept is simple; take part in one of the many global projects that need volunteers.  It’s a similar idea to the backpacking trips, gap year breaks and sabbaticals that many people already take, but with the addition of being involved in something that can help others and the environment.  One of the best ways to find out more is through the Ecoteer organisation.  Their website provides a wealth of information on what kinds of projects are available and how to get involved.

There are many different placements, including guides at ecotourism resorts, working on conservation and humanitarian projects, teaching assignments and much more.  “Travel with a Cause” is the motto of Ecoteer. They provide a gateway whereby prospective volunteers can get an idea of what’s out there and register to join the organisations that they are interested in working for.

Volunteers need to be over 18 with people of all backgrounds and experiences welcome.  They have to cover their own travel expenses to wherever their placement is based as well as travel insurance and spending money, but accommodation and food are generally provided.  For cheap holidays with a difference and an exciting challenge offering the chance for self-discovery, this could be just the ticket.