The Culture Bank

Because it is a popular destination for both business travellers and leisure travellers, the variety of accommodation available in the city is wide. As a bonus, there are many lodgings located close to the city’s main attractions, such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the Pergamon Museum.

There are many luxury affairs in Berlin, where all the comforts of a five star stay can be had. Amenities ranging from onsite restaurants and bars to in-room hot tubs are available. The price range of these five star hotels is quite wide.

Those looking for a budget stay are also accommodated, with many hotels in the city offering rooms at budget rates. The amenities are less extensive, but fixtures such as the swimming pool are often still available.

For those who want something a little different, finding a villa in Berlin could be the way to go. The most common types of villas in the city tend to be one bedroom and two bedrooms. These villas may be found in several areas of Berlin, including Pankow and Lichtenberg.

Located on the south coast of England, Southampton is well known as a departure point for luxury cruises. The city is a popular place for cruise ships to depart from and those leaving the UK for a cruise holiday usually find that Southampton will be the port of departure. Companies operate some of the largest cruise ships in the world from here and many travellers spend a day or so in or near the city, either before or after their cruise.

With a large number of cruise lines using Southampton, travellers have plenty of choices. You can decide the cruise line you want to travel with, the size of the ship, the cabin type and perhaps most importantly, the price. Since cruises from Southampton fill up quickly, it is essential to book your cruise well in advance. 

Cruise companies and online travel agent sites all offer cruise deals and discounts on cruises from Southampton. Check six months to a year in advance or during the winter, to find the best deals on upcoming cruises. Those who are looking for cheap cruise and are not particularly concerned about the destination can find some excellent last-minute offers at great prices.

If you are making Mexico your next holiday destination, there is something that should be added to your list. Apart from shopping, eating out and a whole lot of sunbathing, make time to visit one of the cenotes along the Yucatan.  
Actually, it is even better if you can make the time to dive in one of the local cenotes. The Yucatan Peninsula is dotted with hundreds of cenotes, which are seemingly bottomless sinkholes filled with ice cold water. They are formed in a similar way to caves in the limestone rock that makes up a large portion of the area’s landmass.  

It is for this reason that the Yucatan is a favourite place for many divers, not only ocean diving, but also for cenote diving, which offers a completely different experience to that of traditional ocean exploring.  

If you are not a fan of the dark and deep, make your way towards Playa del Carmen, where the hundreds of natural cenotes are large, warm and much shallower. It is also a better place for novice divers who lack the specialised training required to visit the hidden underwater world of a cenote.

The numerous flights from Gatwick to Grenada make getting there easier than ever. Book a flight from Gatwick to land at the Maurice Bishop International Airport and you will be well on your way to enjoying your Grenada holidays.

Once you arrive, you are free to start exploring as you mingle with the friendly locals or take a tour, some of which include a short flight to Carriacou, Grenada’s tiny sister island. If you want to really enjoy the island, make your way to Grand Anse Beach or Carenage, where you can catch the local water taxis. If you hire a car, remember this is one of the few places remaining where they drive on the left hand side of the road. Also, be patient, this is not a fast-paced or overly crowded island.

Aside from the beautiful beaches there are many great places to explore. Since the island is known for its production of spices, take some time away from the beaches to explore a local spice market in St. Georges. A word of advice is to avoid the mass crowds that appear on cruise ship days. Other great places to see include the island’s River Antoine Rum Distillery, the large spice plantation and Concord Falls, which are located in the island’s rainforest.

Hop on board a sailboat and enjoy the sea breeze as you head over to a nearby island where there are local restaurants, waterslides for the kids and a relaxing beach with a spectacular view for tired mums and dads. There is also a variety of marine life to keep a lookout for, including whales and dolphins.

Fitzroy Island is a jewel of an island in the Coral Sea, just 45 minutes by ferry off the Eastern Australian Coast and another short boat trip to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef.

Stay and Play

Fitzroy Island is mostly composed of Fitzroy Island National Park, a mountainous rainforest surrounded by white sandy beach and pristine coral reef. As the island’s only major lodging, Fitzroy Island Resort offers a range of rooms to fit many budgets, from Ocean-view suites to Beach front cabins. Camping is also available on the island.

While on the island, you can snorkel among the reef formations that extend to the Great Barrier Reef. Stay alert for sightings of clown fish, sea turtles, or even an occasional whale! On land, you may take a guided tour of the surrounding rainforest to learn about some of the native flora and fauna. Along the way, keep a look out for a glimpse of the electric blue Ulysses butterfly. If your guide asks you to try a lick of the small green weaver ant, you might be surprised by the shocking taste! You do not need a guide to explore the island on your own. Trails are visibly marked and you can stretch your legs with a steep hike to the summit and Fitzroy lighthouse for a breath-taking view of the island and sea below.

Getting There, and to the Great Barrier Reef

Fitzroy Island is accessed by ferry from Cairns. International flights to Cairns are available on most major airlines. Whether you intend to snorkel, dive, kayak, or observe from your luxury yacht, your voyage to the Great Barrier Reef will be mainly directed through Cairns. Catamaran tours depart daily from Cairns for snorkelers. Live aboard and day diving trips are also offered by many tourism companies.

Sardinia is a regular holiday destination for many Europeans and with good reason.  Fine weather, beautiful scenery, rich in history and culture, and famous for its food; all this and more make the second largest island in the Mediterranean a great place to visit.  It also enjoys more hours of sunlight than the rest of Italy, so do not be surprised to find many Italians taking their holidays on the island too.

This autonomous region of Italy is actually closer to Africa than the Italian mainland.  This explains the excellent weather, with a summer that lasts from April to November.  Fortunately cool breezes from the sea help keep the humidity down.  Not surprisingly, humans have long favoured the island, and traces of ancient civilisations can be found throughout Sardinia.  The Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals and Byzantine Empire all left their mark, while medieval architecture is still much in evidence.

Sardinia is an excellent location for beach holidays, particularly for those who enjoy water sports, with swimming, boating, scuba diving, windsurfing and kite surfing all available.  The rugged interior of the island also makes it a good place for hiking and climbing.  City lovers will have plenty of options too; the capital city Cagliari and Catalan-influenced town of Alghero are particularly popular.  The island boasts a wealth of historical landmarks and museums, as well as regular festivals and other cultural events.

Seafood plays a major role in Sardinian cuisine, while wild boar roasted on a spit is another favourite.  Sardinia is renowned for its bread, which comes in many shapes and sizes and is often flavoured with herbs.  An excellent selection of wines is also produced on the island.

Sardinia is certainly no remote hideaway, with a population of over 1.5 million, but there is more than enough space and choice to really stretch out and get away from it all.

Once you have booked your cheap cruises from the UK, you will need some additional money for souvenirs or services. There are various ways to carry money safely on cruises. The common ways include carrying money in cash, credit card or traveller’s cheques. However, you must find out which way is most convenient for paying for what you need.

Carrying cash enables you to buy gifts from the open markets ashore or tipping your service providers with ease. You can make use of bags that attach to your belt or hang around your neck and slip in your blouse to carry your cash. 

On the other hand, you can carry credit card.  All your expenses on board are charged to a credit card at the end of the trip.  In addition, most stores found in ports of call accept credit cards when you are making purchases.  ATM cards also come in handy when it comes to making exchanges in local currencies or withdrawing cash on board or at the ports.   In fact, you save on exchange fees using ATM cards to buy various currencies.

Finally, carrying money in the form of traveller’s cheques is also safe and acceptable.  These cheques are obtainable from banks in denominations of the money you wish to spend on the cruise.

It is important that you find out which forms of money your cruise liner accepts before packing.  Also, find out about the availability of ATMs on the ship to avoid inconveniences while cruising.

All you have to do now is sit back and relax on your Middle East Cruise.

Taking part in a cattle drive is a unique type of holiday; it is definitely not for the faint of heart or anyone afraid of hard work. However, if you would like to experience a unique holiday that will leave you with stories to tell your children and grandchildren, this is one you really should consider.

The length of cattle drives vary, from just a few days to several weeks, depending on the season, what part of the United States you start and end in and the details of the specific cattle drive you participate in. In general, you should be at least moderately familiar with horses and horse riding if you are to fully enjoy this type of holiday, although some people are able to become proficient riders after only a few hours of instruction. If you have never ridden a horse before, be sure to mention the fact when you make reservations for your cattle drive holiday to ensure that you are provided with adequate instruction and a horse that will meet your needs.

Remember, these holidays are quite physically draining and all of the members of the drive wake up early and go to bed early. Knowing that you helped to move a herd of cattle from one location to another, sometimes hundreds of miles away, is a very satisfying feeling that you can only experience on a cattle drive holiday.

While there are many cruise companies you could choose to voyage with, you need to pick the right one for your pocket.  In order to do this, you can compare the prices of the various cruises from the UK and pay for the one you can afford.  Several factors determine the pricing of your perfect cruise.  

You can choose to pay the voyage fare separately or cruise and stay put together with entertainment or wellness services.  When the requirements of your trip are tied together, it would translate into a higher price and vice versa.

Another aspect that influences the cruise price is the cost of soft drinks and alcohol.  Some cruises might include the price of the drinks in your fare while others may expect you to pay.

Cabin types also affect the total price.  If you go for a luxury suite, you might have to spend more than if you opted for an inside cabin.

The package you settle for as well as the kind of drinks and cabins you wish to enjoy while on board, will affect the overall cost of your voyage greatly.

No matter how expert or novice a hiker, walking holidays can be tailored to suit and provide a wonderful and memorable experience.  The United Kingdom, Ireland, and mainland Europe are covered with hiking and walking trails to suit all levels.  There is no holiday healthier or more satisfying.

Walking through a country allows guests to see it in a unique, far more personal manner.  Whether guided or following a map, a hike allows tourists to feel closer to the landscape they traverse.  Family hikes create strong bonds and unforgettable memories.

The first part of a hiking holiday is the planning.  If the whole family is intending to go along, all should be involved from this part – planning is part of the fun!  It is important to be realistic when planning a holiday, especially in terms of distance and difficulty.  Plan frequent breaks to make the going easier and to allow yourselves to marvel at the scenery, rather than trudging on until exhaustion.

Tourists intending to hike through mountains or other desolate and beautiful landscapes should be sure to pack the right equipment and plenty of supplies – especially energy bars and sugar fixes.  Some equipment needed will be obvious – like hiking boots and backpacks – but others, such as plenty of clean, dry socks, sunscreen, and insect repellent, could make it a holiday in hell if forgotten.

If the hike leads through an area that has not been marked out as a hiking route, it may be a good idea to carry a hiking GPS or compass.  Hill walking or hiking is an adventure sport, and it pays to be overly cautious.