Friday 29 April 2011

William and Kate put the 'Great' back in Britain





Today as everyone knows is the day of the Royal Wedding and people the world over will wish Prince William and Kate Middleton all the very best for the future. The wedding will give a welcome boost to British tourism and if you have never visited Great Britain's green and pleasant shores before then now is the time to plan a trip. Today's Royal Wedding, next year's Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the Olympics will pull the crowds from far and wide so that many first time visitors to the UK will be able to join the population in a celebration of all things British.


Congratulations to the Royal Couple

Here is a selection of articles that serve as an introduction to some of the highlights which Britain offers the overseas visitor including such national treasures as fish and chips and the Queen herself.


A visitor's guide to York


York City Walls

Click here for free days out in London


London Bus and 'Big Ben'

Five great places to visit in England


Mayflower Steps

Traditional British Meals


Great British Fish and Chips

Our Marvellous Monarch

Queen Elizabeth II

























  
Provincial Plymouth    

Plymouth Hoe

                             Enjoy your visit to Great Britain!

Monday 25 April 2011

Magical, Mystical Morocco

 

The most westerly of all North African countries, Morocco has the benefit of an Atlantic and a Mediterranean coastline. It is the ideal holiday destination and is easily accessible from mainland Europe. Increasingly popular with tourists from the USA, Morocco is reached by direct transatlantic flights to Casablanca.


Morocco is one of first countries I ever visited at the age of ten and I have been back on a number of occasions since. Having fun bartering in the kasbahs or dressing up as Lawrence of Arabia will appeal to all the family - not just the kids.

Tangier is the gateway to the Mediterranean and here you will experience a totally different culture to that of Spain only a short distance away across the Straits of Gibraltar. There is a proposed tunnel under the sea in the next few years to link the continents of Europe and Africa and this is set to boost tourism in Morocco to new heights.


Morocco is a land of contrasts whether you visit inland or the coastal area. The Tangier/Tetouan region offers the best of both. Between the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and the town of M'Diq are some of  Morocco's finest beaches where new resorts are being built to rival over-commercialized and over-priced Southern Spain.

Marrakesh, in the very heart of Morocco is an increasingly popular destination although it's a city far from the sea  There is the magnificent backdrop of the Atlas Mountains and the red city walls to impress the discerning tourist. Anyone travelling to Marrakesh would benefit from reading the following article

 

2015 update : Marrakesh has recently been voted as tripadvisor's number one destination in the world.








For a further selection of typical Moroccan vacation rentals click here for a reputable site with plenty of information on holiday homes.




Friday 22 April 2011

Tourists Regain Confidence in Tunisia


Tourists are regaining confidence in Tunisia as a potential holiday destination for the 2011 season. Only a handful of overly cautious airlines and cruise companies are omitting the ever popular North African country from their current routes and itineraries.
  
Click here for a visitor's guide to Tunisia

Accommodation varies from exclusive 5 star hotels complete with casinos to opulent villas and apartments in the town of Hammamet which is Tunisia's answer to St. Tropez. The following website shows an example of typical apartment accommodation at an affordable price - only a short walk away from beaches of fine golden sand. For a unique slide show of Tunisian highlights and details of this beautiful apartment to rent in Hammamet  click here.


Some of the best hotels are part of the Les Orangers group and include the Bel Azur, the Royal Azur and the Sol Azur in Hammamet. The Bel Azur has a fantastic health hydro which is located in a marvelous setting directly overlooking the Mediterranean. The hotel is located in one of the most popular spots along the Tunisian coast. The following photos were taken in summer 2010

The ever popular amphitheatre

The outdoor restaurant between two beaches

A typical view from sun terrace

The pool area

Incorrigible sun worshippers will be certain to be impressed with the beach and surroundings that Hammamet has to offer. And for those who prefer milder weather a winter long-stay vacation to Tunisia will cost you less than if you remain at home and pay costly heating bills! Read some reviews of the hotel from Trip Advisor here or  click here for a review of my own.
The hotel is soon to complete a full refurbishment program and will be even better than before.

Food in Tunisia is rich in variety and is always freshly prepared almost before your eyes. The olive oil rich Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world.


Couscous - the national dish

For a taste of Tunisian food, follow this link

Hammamet, Tunisia's premier and longest established resort is described in the following article.

Hammamet - the 'Garden resort'  

Hammamet's Ancient Medina

Tunisia will never fail to please whether you visit for the climate, the food or the fabulous beaches and choice of water sports. The people are friendly and hospitable and flights from Europe are frequent and inexpensive. 

And finally for an on-line opportunity to discuss all things Tunisian and discover a wealth of information before you travel, the following site has everything you need to know about flights, hotels and places of interest.
 
www.Tunisia.com

Thursday 21 April 2011

Lanzarote - Island of Volcanoes


It's time to start thinking about summer vacations now that spring is well underway. Lanzarote in the Canary Islands is a popular holiday destination and is quite unique in the world. It offers a temperate climate all year round and is a popular destination for European nationals being located at just four hours flying time from Mainland Europe. Two of my recent travel articles about the island are featured on the following website that tells you anything and everything you need to know about Lanzarote: Follow this link. The same site now has a channel on YouTube where you can view videos of the island - click here.

Here is a link to James Villas - a great site if you'd like to
hire a villa in Lanzarote 


Top ten things to do on Lanzarote.


Below is another of my articles on the island :



                             Lanzarote - Island of Volcanoes

Lanzarote is the most northerly and fourth largest of the Canary Islands. Lying a thousand miles distant from mainland Spain, it enjoys a temperate climate which varies between 18 c and 24 c all year round, as does its neighbours, and is popular with tourists all over the world. Rain is infrequent and the vegetation is more adapted to sunny weather.

Unique in the world, Lanzarote is a fine example of recent (archaeologically-speaking) volcanic activity. Between the years 1730-36 the central western part the island was devastated when thirty two of the island's hundred existing volcanoes erupted simultaneously, wreaking a havoc which was to become the world's greatest known volcanic holocaust. Miraculously no-one was killed or seriously injured, islanders having ample warning to escape to the north where they settled in the shadows of yet another, this time thankfully, dormant volcano.