Blackpool or Paris

The differences are very obvious. A rainy day in the Lake District in London with a cup of cream tea sounds soothing and romantic. The beach in Bridlington provides plenty of sunshine for you to soak up. The chance to catch sight of Will and Kate on Anglesey is so tempting. However, in a far away country such as Greece, there are endless blue seas waiting for you to jump in. The view over the cliff tops on the caldera in Santorini on a Greek Isles Cruise is thrilling as well. The Olue Deniz beach is voted amongst the Top 5 vacation beaches in the world and isn’t that a beauty to discover? What to choose, Landon or the rest of Europe? Blackpool or Paris? They are really competitive with each other and I wish I can make the ultimate satisfying decision on choosing one to spend my vacation time in. There are still many places to explore in Landon area but the Eiffel Tower is also waving at me. The travelling is exciting and Europe is a vast continent to explore. I literally have to make the hardest decision on my vacation of the 2012.

Look at the details

Shall we look at the first priority—which vacation can fit into your wallet? For the last three Easter breaks, I was in the Lake District. The weekend breaks in places like London and Dublin are charming. Spending many summer holidays on the Wales and Devon coasts was my childhood best memories. However, let me tell you this: it can be expensive to spend your holidays in the UK considering all the travelling costs around the city. The cost and standard of UK hotels are high with their fine quality. Hotels to stay in Blackpool, North West England, range from $36.00 up to more than $200.00 per night. For a two week vacation, that’s a lot of investment.

Another thought on the unpredictable British Weather! I personally prefer to wake up to open windows and embrace sunshine, blue skies and crystal clear ocean view. I don’t mind carrying with passports, visas, jabs and Euros, as long as there is warmth welcoming me at the destination!

Decision Making

So, there’s still the Cruise or beach holiday in the Med or a trip to New York with my name on it in 2012. That’s where I am going! Listening to my friends and colleagues, they share similar plans this summer. Hope to see you all there!

New York City: The city that never sleeps is an exciting and thrilling destination that boasts a huge variety of museums, attractions, cuisine and accommodations. Thanks to student vacations and summer holidays for residents, the streets can be a little less crowded and attractions have shorter queues. Take a tour of the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island, visit the Natural History Museum or take a ferry to the quieter Staten Island borough. The nightlife and dining in New York City is also a major attraction. Dine on Italian food in Little Italy, Chinese food in China Town or even traditional Ethiopian fare in the Bronx.

Orlando, Florida: This destination is a top pick for families and anyone who loves the thrill of amusement parks. The city boasts nearly a dozen different parks, each with a different theme and a variety of rides and attractions. The largest is Walt Disney World, whose rides are based on popular movies and stories like Alice in Wonderland or Toy Story. The second most popular amusement park is Universal Studios Orlando.

This park offers a slightly more adult feel and boasts a huge dining and entertainment complex that is ideal for spending your evenings. If you want to cool off and feel refreshed, head instead to the water park Wet’n'Wild or the marine park SeaWorld. Orlando is also close to several beaches and lakes in Florida and offers incredible warm weather year round.

Honolulu, Hawaii: If you are looking for the perfect beach holiday in America, look no further than the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. The capital city of Honolulu is the best place to find gorgeous sandy shorelines, warm weather and plenty of historical attractions. View traditional Hawaiian palaces, try the world’s largest maze at the Dole Pineapple Plantation or just relax by the pool and work on your tan. At night you can attend one of the luaus on the island to try local foods, admire the graceful hula dancers and be impressed by the Polynesian fire performers.

Colorado Springs, Colorado: There is no better place than Colorado if you want to have an exciting outdoor holiday. If hiking and kayaking seem like more fun than relaxing on the beach, then Colorado is ideal for a summer getaway. Visitors can try trail running or cycling through the mountains or get wet with some kayaking and standup paddle-boarding on the rivers. Colorado Springs is considered to be the outdoor capital of America, so adventurous travelers certainly won’t be disappointed.

Each of these fantastic American destinations would make a great choice for any summer holiday.

Bio – this guest posting was written by Kelly who writes at the Netflights.com Blog and discusses Summer Holidays.

Add to these the likelihood that your income is lower because of your illness or disability, and travel starts to look prohibitively expensive. But this needn’t be the case, and although your trip may require a fair bit of planning, if it’s to be both affordable and satisfying, there are ways to significantly cut your costs.

Disabled couch surfing

Couch surfing has taken off in a big way in recent years. If you’ve not encountered it yet, Couch Surfers matches you up with people who’ve registered their couch or spare bed on the website. Admittedly it’s a little intimidating if you’re not the most outgoing person, but there’s a good rating system, so you can see other travellers’ feedback. A good number of them are listed as disability-friendly, although it’s always worth checking that your potential host is not just being overly optimistic, and that their house really is accessible.

InterRail & Eurail passes

Rail travel is considerably easier than air travel when you’re ill, and it’s far more interesting whatever your health situation. Apart from the Eurostar whistling through those tight tunnels coming out of London, there are no issues with pressurisation making you feel unwell, or overzealous aircon drying you out. There’s usually less waiting around or perambulating around terminals, and there’s a constant scrolling landscape to keep you entertained.

If you’re travelling around Europe by rail, InterRail (for Europeans) and EuRail (non-Europeans) can save you £100s. Passes can be bought for one or many European countries, and range from a few “travel days” (which start from 7pm the night before, so can include sleeper trains, for which you’ll only have to pay a booking supplement) within a couple of weeks, to travelling every day in a month. You may have to pay a few booking fees but otherwise all your rail travel is covered by the pass, which often also gives added benefits that vary from country to country – a discount on your Eurostar out of London, for example, or money off hostels.

Private rooms in hostels

If you’re not too bothered about fancy decor but still need a comfortable mattress and some peaceful privacy, try booking private rooms in hostels. In my experience, they’re clean, comfortable, and half the price of rooms in basic hotels that really don’t offer much more in the way of amenities than your average hostel does.

This post was written by Tristan, who is the face of the World First travel blog. He writes about global goings-on and helps keep travel-lovers up to date with breaking news and travel tips.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/100013687611442258419/about

Why Africa?

Africa volunteering holidays are often at the front of travellers’ minds when they consider helping out somewhere overseas. Sadly, here in the UK we see and hear far too much bad news about the struggle African families face in day to day life. We also hear endless tales of animals threatened by extinction.  For those who feel compassion, sometimes making a donation just isn’t enough. For those that want to provide hands on help, there are no end of volunteer opportunities.

Image source: http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/photo-galleries/?content=south-africa/

Opportunities in Africa

With so much interest from UK travellers who want to help overseas, organisations have been set up to make the volunteering process easier, safer and accessible to everyone.   For anyone who is considering becoming a teaching volunteer Africa is the perfect place. There are so many schools that need support with English language teaching, as well as support needed for teaching other subjects like PE and Geography.

Who Can Volunteer?

Organised volunteer holidays accept travellers from all walks of life. Each and every one of us have different skills, experience and personal traits that greatly benefit developing areas. The general rule is that any volunteers must be over 17 and there is no upper age limit. For those who want to get involved in overseas volunteer projects at an earlier age, special summer placements are available for over 16s.

Where are the African Volunteer Opportunities?

The main areas of Africa that offer volunteer opportunities are South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania although it is possible to find opportunities throughout the continent. South Africa is very popular for conservation projects and offers the chance to explore and be a part of the Bush eco system. Tanzania has a much improved health and education systems that always need a steady supply of medical and educational volunteers to help continue the growth and development of facilities.

For the ultimate Africa volunteering holiday, there are enough opportunities to travel around several countries and to take part in completely varied schemes to get a full taste of Africa and a well-rounded sense of purpose and achievement.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31617132@N06/3009598007/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Whether you have four days to spare or the entire week, here are five reasons why you should take a trip across the water and experience some family-friendly Parisian culture in the beautiful French capital.

1. No trip to Paris is complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. If you are fighting fit, climb up the steps to the second floor of this iconic monument. There is also a lift which will take you all the way to the summit. It is best to check the prices as different tickets and prices allow you to certain levels.

2. The Tuileries Gardens is adored by both adults and children. A large green space situated in the centre of Paris it is the perfect place to play or relax with an ice cream. With a traditional carousel and pony rides there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Children can hire small wooden sailing boats or feed the ducks at either of the two ponds. There is also several cafes where you can take rest and recharge.

3. Paris is a relatively small city so is quite easy to get around. The cobbled streets are packed with patisseries and cafes tempting you with the delicious smells of freshly baked bread and pastries. Children will enjoy sampling the delicious hot chocolate and experimenting with the various types of crepes, sweets and cookies

4. If you want to combine fun with education then there are heaps of museums to challenge inquisitive minds including the Parc de la Villette’s science museum for children. Why not visit the Museum of Natural History near the Gare d’Austerlitz, grouped around a botanical garden. There is also a zoo in the 5th arrondissement near the Sein.

5. Disneyland Paris is a firm family favourite. If you want to spend a day outside of the city, catch the early train from central Paris via the RER suburban train (line A) which takes 40 minutes

If you want to see if Paris will live up to your expectations then have a look at holiday reviews on zoover.co.uk or see what other exciting places you may like to visit.

Paris in June has both hot and chilly days. On average, temperatures during the day can go up to highs of 23 degrees C and with lows of 13 degrees C particularly at night. The average amount of sunlight is at its peak of eight hours per day.
Pack a hat and sun protection for when the sun comes out especially if you are spending plenty of time in the parks.

June is also one of the wettest seasons so pack light waterproofs and an umbrella as storms can catch you out rather quickly. It would also be advisable to take with you comfortable footwear as visits to Paris usually involve a lot of walking.

In a nut shell, la Smorfia is a system of symbolic numerology that expresses itself in the picking of lotto numbers as well as in the endemic presentation of bingo (though to my eyes is similar to Mexican bingo). Lottery picks are divined from the players’ dreams, which are decoded into a series of images and symbols that are then matched with numbers. In bingo the symbolic imagery attaches itself to the numbers on bingo cards and can find expression in sayings and rhymes that are called out with the numbers.

The name Smorfia comes from Morpheus, the Greek god that governed dreams, and the practice was born out of a collision between Jewish mysticism, ancient Greek oneirocriticism (dream interpretation),  and a burgeoning culture of government sanctioned gambling in 15^th century Naples. The esoteric practices of the Hebrew Kabbalah affirm (among other things) that there are hidden meanings attached to words and numbers and vice versa. This idea seeped into the larger mystical culture of medieval Europe and informed cross-cultural traditions of fortune telling and divination (e.g. tarot), and when the king of Naples legalized lotteries in the 15^th century this tradition of numerological imagery was codified into a system to inform lotto players of which numbers to play. Fast forward 500 years, and you have a pop-cultural artefact that everyone (in Naples at least) knows that 1=god (or Italy), 22=crazy person, 90=fear etc.

Most often la Smorfia seems to be expressed via the medium of bingo calls. Since the symbolic interpretation of numbers is so ingrained in the pop-culture consciousness of the region, the interpretations are recognized outside the context of the lotto. This means that bingo is intertwined with la Smorfia and the imagery is found both in bingo cards and bingo calls. Sometimes the players knowledge of the symbolic imagery is put to the test as some sets of bingo cards will lack numbers and only display a grid of images—the player having to match up the number with the image on their card. Equally, the person calling the bingo game will leave out the number and only call out the prescribed saying for each image.

Relatively recently online bingo has become achieved legal status within the lucrative Italian market. I know tombola online bingo is currently in development of a la Smorfia type bingo game—and so I assume that many other online bingo sites are either in development or have already implemented bingo games that incorporate la Smorfia into play as well.

To get a sense of the entire city, visit the Reichstag (German Parliament) and go up to its observation deck and enjoy its panoramic views. There’s also a restaurant so you can take in the view while having a meal. The building itself is a symbol of old and new Berlin. It first opened in 1894. It suffered serious fire damage in 1933 and was bombed during World War II. Since reunification, the Reichstag has been covered by a stunningly modern glass dome.

You can learn about the city’s long history, both the good and bad, with a visit to the new Jewish Museum Berlin. The museum chronicles the two millenia of Jewish life in Germany through which you’ll also learn about German history generally.

For a spot of green in the city, you’ll want to visit the Tiergarten. This public park and gardens has miles of walks running through it’s one square mile expanse. There are plenty of places to picnic in the Tiergarten or you can visit the Berlin Zoo, which is on the grounds.

If you want to get a sense of how the old East Berlin is taking to westernization, you can relax in the popular cafes of in the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood. Part of East Berlin, it’s now one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods. You can see a bit of the old east at the East Side Gallery, southeast of Alexanderplatz. This is the longest stretch of the old Berlin Wall that still stands. It’s been highly decorated by artists over the years, hence it’s new name as the East Side Gallery.

Anyone who wants a more formal arts experience, then going to Museum Island is a must. Museum Island is a complex of five major museums that take up the northern tip of an island that sits in the center of the city in the Spree River. This complex, both its buildings and their contents, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Museum Island, you can visit the Altes Museum (Old Museum), Neues Museum (New Museum), Alte Nationalgalerie (Old National Gallery), Bode Museum, and Pergamon Museum.

In addition to the visual arts, Berlin is also well-known for its music. The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the finest in the world. You can attend a concert at the Staatsoper. If you want a taste of Berlin’s historic cabaret culture, you can find a number of places along the Friedrichstrasse.

Berlin is also home to some of the hippest fashion designers. If you want to go shopping, you can find some local boutiques along the Friedrichstrasse or on some of its side streets, Bleibtreustrasse and Knesebeckstrasse.

Bio – this article was written by Ross who writes about European travel at <http://edinburghguide.org.uk/>http://travelstuff.org.uk/   and http://utraveldirectory.co.uk/

The first structure built in 1876 was the Biscayne House of Refuge. This was a center to welcome shipwrecked survivors. It provided food, shelter and a way to ease back into civilization. The first hotel was built in 1915. Until then, most of the people who visited were day travelers coming from Miami from across the bay. Much of Miami Beach was constructed from landfill and dredging in Biscayne Bay.

The area became a tourist spot after five hotels were built. A hurricane in 1926 paused the economic boom that Miami Beach was enjoying. None of the original five hotels built survive today. Reconstruction began and small stucco hotels and small tourist rooms were built in the Art Deco style. This section is now the Historic section.

There are activities in Miami Beach to meet everyone’s expectations. The nightlife of Miami Beach and South Beach attract those who love to party and for those who love to shop. There are cafes, restaurants and coffee bars for everyone’s taste. Many have open-air seating so you can enjoy the ambiance and also do some people watching. Of course, there are the beautiful white sand beaches that stretch for miles. Hang out on the beach, enjoy a game of beach volleyball or just lounge in the glorious sunshine.

The Everglades are a unique tourist site offering over one million acres of swamps, jungles, and saw-grass prairies. Though most of it is undeveloped, there is plenty of places to walk, canoe and camp. It is home to several endangered species including the Florida Panther and the American Crocodile.

Miami Beach have several wonderful sights to see and educate your children. They will never know they are getting lessons while they are enjoying the Miami Seaquarium. It is located in the heart of the tourist district and features an outdoor aquarium. Plan on spending at least a half day in this remarkable spot.

Also enjoyable and educational is the Zoo Miami. It contains some beautiful animals from Asia, Africa and Australia. Because of the weather patterns in Miami, they are able to accommodate animals from all regions in a cage less environment. Animals that are compatible in the wild are placed together in this remarkable zoo. Wanting a little more exotic animals? You can visit Parrot Jungle and Monkey Jungle. One of the most remarkable items of note is that humans walk through cages while the monkeys scamper around in their natural habitat above and all around the walkway.
For adults, the Coral Castle is a unique experience. Built by a man as a monument to his lover, it took 28 years to complete and is well worth the trip from downtown to see. Another stop to make is the Vicaya Estate. This beautiful European style mansion sits on a 50 acre estate. It is a popular spot for entertainment events, weddings and other special occasions.

Miami Beach has it all, come visit and bring the whole family. There is something for everyone!

Bio – this article was written by Ross who writes about Worldwide Travel at and traveling at http://worldtraveler.org.uk/ and http://suitcaseandholdall.co.uk/

Many people now travel from around the globe to visit the sites from these gripping novels. They take in the places, the pubs, the public buildings, the mortuary where the bodies of victims are kept and the police station where Inspector John Rebus works.

There are tours available for people who are wanting to visit some of the amazing places in just one day and without having to plan their own journey. You can take part in a walking tour usually lasting around two hours that allows you to take in a wide array of sites and historical locations that might not usually be tourist haunts.

Some of the reason that people are so fascinated with the Rebus series is because Ian Rankin used real events and places in his books and these are interwoven throughout the series. Each walking tour on offer is different and allows you walk through the Old Town, the Holyrood Scottish Parliament site, past the Regency terraces overlooking Arthur’s Seat and see the landscape that is integral to many of the books in the Rebus series.

Alternatively you can follow a different path and visit the Water of Leith by the city centres as see the place which stands as a connection between Robert Louis Stevenson and the Ian Rankin books. Ian Rankin was a graduate
of Edinburgh University, like Robert Louis Stevenson, and acknowledges the influence that this made, that and those of other classic Scottish writers.

The Rebus pub, The Royal Oak, is a fantastic place to start or finish your visit. Pass by the Royal High School and the ancient medical district, the historic Flodden Wall which allows you to take in the Salisbury Crag. Saint Leonard’s Police Station is another fantastic place to visit and is of course the work place of Inspector Rebus. Newington District is another fantastic area allowing you to see the Drummond Street where you can learn more about Walter Scott, Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Canongate Cemetery holds the romantic story of Robert Burns and Clarinda. Learn about some of Edinburgh’s former mysteries by passing the Poetry Library and visiting the dour Dumbiedykes. Cowgate offers a grim place to visit, at least when wrote up in the series, and the High Street will allow you to take in some amazing locations as well as do some shopping. You will find Rebus readings on offer around Edinburgh and they help to show the humour and darkness that Rebus brings to Edinburgh.

Forth Road Bridge is another beautiful location to visit as well as Edinburgh Castle will it’s breathtaking views and the Grassmarket close by.

Edinburgh is home to so many wonderful sites and sounds from the Ian Rankin series of books surrounding Inspector John Rebus and any visit here will be filled with fun, excitement and interest as you visit some of the locations
you have read about for yourself.

Bio – this article was written by Ross who writes about Edinburgh and traveling at his website http://edinburghguide.org.uk/ and blog http://travelideas.org.uk/

For travelers who want to shop for local arts and crafts, Columbus is a surprisingly attractive destination. While the city does not enjoy extensive publicity, Columbus is home to many burgeoning arts districts, such as the Short North and Easton Town Center. Short North’s stores sell a wide variety of products, including home furnishings, cookware, antiques, vintage goods, stationery, bath products, candles and mead. Easton Town Center offers clothing stores like Caché and White House | Black Market, as well as L’Occitane, which specializes in natural beauty products from the south of France. Columbus also hosts the non-profit Glass Axis, where you can find original glass art and, if you’re in town long enough, take a class in cold, warm or hot working. Locals are extremely proud of their city and will be delighted to help you find the perfect objets d’art to memorialize your trip.

If you’re searching for an extensive range of shopping options in a more-compact geographical area, look no further than Chicago. The Windy City is home to the much-lauded Magnificent Mile, located on historic Michigan Avenue. This relatively short stretch of shopping includes the flagship stores of many internationally recognized brands, including Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s. While in Chicago, stop by The Art Institute’s gift shop, which is home to classically designed art objects and strikingly modern décor. A short cab ride will take you to the luxurious Gold Coast’s historic Water Tower Place, whose stunning granite fountains and eight octagonal levels make shopping a visual pleasure. Find anything your heart desires while enjoying the vibrant, contemporary atmosphere of a beautiful urban center.

New York has long been recognized as a shopping paradise. The City That Never Sleeps truly has something for everyone, from java joints and decadent chocolate shops to independent boutiques and well-known department stores. New York’s charm is in its neighborhoods and this rule extends to shopping as well. In Chelsea, you’ll find exquisite art. Chinatown offers dozens of small souvenir shops. Stop by Disney, Sephora, Billabong or Toys”R”Us in Times Square and browse through boutiques offering modern urban clothing in Park Slope. Each New York neighborhood has its own appeal. Even, though you may have to take a few cab rides, you’ll definitely find a borough that suits your particular shopping interests.

Shopping is an enjoyable and effective way to explore a new city and ensure you’ll always have tangible memories of your trip. The next time you decide to take a vacation, consider traveling to a city that makes shopping a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

Jessica loves traveling and visiting new places. She also enjoys scrapbooking about her adventures.