Must Visit to 20 Degres Sud, The luxurious hotel

Hotel 20 Degres Sud is perfectly situated in the northwest of the beautiful island of Mauritius. The smallest luxurious hotel on the island offers charm and intimacy in a refined and tranquil setting, The rooms are uniquely designed and everything individually chosen down to the finest detail, giving a ‘just like home’ feel to this charming resort.

The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is in the heart of Riviera Nayrit and takes everything to extremes. 348 stylish and chic quest rooms have unsurpassed views of the Pacific Ocean. There is always something to do for all the family with a 7 hole pitch and putt, kids club and nightly entertainment, it’s all here and all yours……..

The Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is ‘right in the middle of it’ and means never being far from the action of Cancun. This 12 story All Inclusive hotel offers fantastic dining options from a superb International Buffet in ‘The Market’ to Italian Fine Dining at Ciao. Stylish rooms and Rock Star suites combined with panoramic views will make this a waterfront experience which is second to none…….

Fresh pasta, pizzas and good wine are the first things that come to mind when someone says Italy but, then again, I’m partial to really nice food. To others, Italy will be about heritage, culture and customs that date back to before the Romans…I think neither is wrong.
In a nutshell, everyone could find a reason to go to Italy as it has so many things to offer, and for every budget as well.

Getting there

The easiest way from the UK is by air and numerous scheduled and charter services offer a multitude of flights into a wide selection of Italian airports.For most of the holiday options I have explored, flights to Italy are the least part of the price whereas accommodation and transfers are quite expensive.

For those with more time on their hands, train travel may be an option but will be more expensive than flights. A coach trip, as with rail, would give you a lot more sight-seeing opportunities but, once again, takes substantially longer and wouldn’t save any money. One last option may appeal to a lot of people…what about a cruise? There are many cruise options from various ports and this can get you in to see other countries as well.

What to see

A huge draw to Italy is the architecture; fantastic Roman ruins and amazing basilicas abound from Milan in the North to Sicily in the South. The cities of Naples and Venice, on the West and East coasts provide a great opportunity for a twin centre break to see the ruins of Pompeii and then the amazing architecture of the Venetians. Flights are available between most Italian cities but I would suggest a train to get the most out of the landscape.

Italy also has some amazing beach resorts but you won’t find your typical all-inclusive holidays…they just don’t do them. Getting out and about seems to be the Italian way and local dining options always abound, and for all budgets as well. Keep an eye out for where the locals congregate in the evenings…this is usually a good way to get the best food at the best value.

Where to go

Italy isn’t just about beautiful cities and beaches; the fashion outlets of Milan, Lake Garda near Verona or Mount Etna in Sicily are other attractions to be considered. Villa holidays are quite popular and a self catering option gives you the opportunity to get the most from the local produce and to meet the locals at the markets.

With a choice of direct flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Belfast to Tromsø, it is even easier to access the wonders of Northern Norway and go in search of the elusive, magnificent Northern Lights.
Tromsø – Kirkenes – Tromsø

Day 1 Tromsø
Fly from the UK to Tromsø, the Gateway to the Arctic, and perhaps enjoy the sights of the this famous, compact city before boarding the ship and departing late in the afternoon.
Day 2 Honningsvåg and the North Cape
Following the scenic sailing through Magerøysund and after an early stop in Hammerfest, you arrive in Honningsvåg.
Day 3 Kirkenes, the voyage turning point The last port on the Voyage North is Kirkenes, and at longitude 30°E you are
actually further east than Istanbul and St. Petersburg.
Day 4 Hammerfest and Tromsø
Your first major stop of the day is Hammerfest. Here, you can enjoy an optional excursion including a visit to Hammerfest’s UNESCO
World Heritage site. Transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 5
After breakfast in your hotel this morning, a choice of winter excursions is available before you are transferred to Tromsø airport for your direct flight back to the UK.

To book Call 0114 3273436

The original Maldivian resort, popular Kurumba offers quality at great value, with a convenient location, traditional style, fabulous dining and sublime hospitality, all in cosmopolitan surrounds fringed with delectable beaches

Nine islands in the Atlantic Ocean make up the Azores. Located about 1,400km from Lisbon, and 3,900km from the United States, they are renowned for their relaxed pace of life and stunning natural beauty.

The Azores were discovered in the 15th century by Portuguese navigators in transit to the New World. They have been under the control of Portugal ever since, save for a spell under Spanish rule from 1580 to 1642, when the two countries were in union. The islands now have a permanent population of just over 246,000 people.

Green Island with an area of 744 square km and a population of just over 140,000, it’s the largest and liveliest of the isles. Its capital, Ponta Delgada, is a lively town with cobbled streets and old Portuguese architecture that offer clues as to its long heritage.

São Miguel and the island of Santa Maria form the Eastern Group of the Azores. Northwest of these two are the five islands that make up the Central Group: Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira. Furthest out into the Atlantic are the Western Group of islands – Flores and Corvo. Because the islands were colonised gradually, over the space of two centuries, there is great variation in their culture and traditions.

The nine islands that make up the Azores are remote, unspoilt and scenic. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic, some 3900km from the east cost of America. They were first discovered by Portugese mariners in the 15th century. Today, holidays in the Azores are a popular choice for those seeking peace and relaxation in a pristine environment

Berlin is a very interesting city but you need to arrive in the right mindset.  The starkness of the city itself and, of course, its history make for a bleak background. The good part is that once you get past Berlin’s grey past there is a plethora of things to do 24 hours a day. The public transportation runs, as expected, like German clockwork and getting around is easy and economical.

These main draws are historical but must be seen as this is what old Berlin is about:

-The remaining sector of the Berlin Wall
-The Jewish Museum
-The Brandenburg Gate
-Checkpoint Charlie

These four locations will take up a full day at least and if you are in Berlin for more than a weekend you may wish to devote more time to them. We spent two nights in Berlin but were able to get a very good grasp of these and I don’t feel I missed anything.

Other main attractions are the Alexanderplatz, which is the main transportation hub, and the fantastic museums and galleries. Photo opportunities are as abundant as the beer and bratwurst. Shopping is a popular pastime in Berlin and the shops range from everyday market stalls to the designers on the Jägerstraße. Another sight for me was the fact that there is a Volkwagen/Bugatti dealership in the centre of the city…a haven for petrol heads in the midst of the shopping.

After a day of sightseeing, I don’t think we were prepared for the fact that many of the bars never close. We discovered that the cleaners arrive in the morning to tidy up around the survivers but the party keeps going on. Berlin has an amazing night life which offers something for all walks of life. The ravers can dance all night but there are, also, bars that are more akin to coffee houses where friends can chat the night away and nobody shouts last call.

Before our night on the town we filled ourselves on traditional German fare and I was pleasantly surprised to find cabbage rolls on the menu. I grew up in a household with a strong German influence and the food was a warm reminder of meals long past. While all the normal fast food joints are available, quick snacks can be had from the bratwurst vendors or great restaurants are abundant wherever you are downtown.

We stayed in the old, Eastern, part of Berlin and found that the food options were fewer and definitely not as good as downtown. While the hotels are cheaper outside the centre I’d suggest dining before you get the train back. I also found that the people were much more reserved in the old town and that English was less spoken but the ambience was more traditional…central Berlin is very flash.

A trip to Berlin is, I believe, a must if just to reflect on the past but the new city has so much more to offer.  Flights are available to Berlin Schoenefeld from various UK airports and the train is easy to get into the centre. English is widely spoken and getting around shouldn’t be an issue for even the most reserved traveller. I recommend Berlin for a 2-3 night break but it can also be incorporated into a more comprehensive rail or coach trip.