Five Reasons to Holiday In Brighton

With the sun starting to make the odd guest appearance you may be optimistic enough to start thinking of the summer. Hot, long lazy days, or balmy summer evenings in the beer garden of your local pub, maybe even a summer holiday? Maybe somewhere hot and sunny, with beautiful beaches, entertaining things to do, breathtaking things to see and a rich and diverse culture? Unfortunately, many of us are feeling the pinch at the moment and jetting off half way around the world may be hard to justify. Luckily we live in a country that can offer everything you can want from a holiday, living on an island means there’s always plenty of coast and beautiful beaches. Brighton is located in East Sussex on the south east coast of England and is easily accessible from London and the rest of the UK. It offers something for everyone, with the tranquility of the Sussex Downs and Beachy Head just down the road combined with the rich history of the city itself you can find whatever it is you want from a holiday in this diverse holiday hotspot.

Accommodation is as varied as the city itself; from the world famous five star Grand Hotel to bed and breakfasts through to hostels (many of these on the actual sea front). No matter what your budget or expectations you are guaranteed to find holiday accommodation, which not only meets, but also exceeds your expectations.

So what is there to see in Brighton? Well let’s start with the piers. The Palace Pier is now Brighton’s main and only functioning pier. Opening in 1899, it has survived the wars, weather and time remarkably well and still embodies the atmosphere of innocence and jubilation of Victorian England. It boasts bars and restaurants, stalls, amusements and right on the very end is the fun fair. The pier helps make a great day out for a family with young children, a young couple looking for a romantic day out or an older couple looking for a quiet day sitting on outdoor furniture looking
out to sea. Just a few minutes walk down the promenade is the remains of the older West Pier, although it closed to the public for the last time in the 1970’s and has been almost destroyed in more recent years by fire and weather, its haunting remains are still an iconic part of Brighton’s rich history.

As well as all the normal shops, cafés and bars you’d expect in a vibrant city, Brighton also boasts some more quaint and unique establishments. The lanes are a network of smaller alleyways and narrow lanes which could quite easily swallow a day in themselves, from antique shops, to arts and crafts to collectables, they offer something for everyone. Whether you’re an avid fan of an old cult TV show, a keen artist or art collector, or are simply looking for a slightly more original gift than the stick of rock whatever you pick up in the Lanes, it is likely to be a one off and carry the memories of a great day.

If you’re after something slightly more intrepid, why not hire some roller blades and take a skate down the sea front? Of course, being situated on the coast there are also boat trips, deep-sea fishing or diving for you to try your hand at. If the marine life intrigues you, there’s also a sea life centre for you to explore too. If you’re still not exhausted after that, Brighton’s exuberant nightlife caters for all walks of life.

If you prefer your holidays slightly more sedate, East Sussex offers some of the most beautiful county side in the UK. Just a short way out from Brighton, the Sussex Downs culminate in Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters; providing acres of breathtaking scenery to be explored. Standing on the cliffs really makes you appreciate what an outstanding area of natural beauty this place is. Although you may not wish to get too close to the edge of the towering white cliffs, it is even possible to see over the English Channel to France on a clear day.

These are just a few brief snippets of what Brighton has to offer, it’s the perfect city for a summer holiday or a last minute break just to get away from everything.

————————

For the best deals on last minute accommodation in Brighton visit Hotelshop for the best selection of UK city breaks and last minute UK holidays. http://www.hotelshopuk.com/

Welcome back!

Related posts

• Visit Surrey, England (0)
• Tenerife Beaches Canary Islands (0)
• New Forest National Park (0)
• Menorca, Spain – Seven Top Beaches (0)
• Majorca Top Ten Sandy Beaches (0)

Walking in the volcanoes

There are many beautiful areas of France to explore on foot and the Auvergne region, at its heart, is surely one of the most stunning.

The name derives from the name applied to the region occupied by the ancient Gaulish tribe, the Averni. In fact ‘Vercingatorix’, the leader of the Averni led the Gauls to a great victory over the Romans at ‘Gergovia’ in 52 BC. The ‘Plain de Gergovia’ is located to the south of the Auvergne’s modern capital, Clermont Ferrand and is a popular tourist attraction with a memorial to Vercingatorix, a visitor centre and fine views over the city. The modern Auvergne is comprised of 4 separate departments – the Allier in the north, the Puy de Dome in the centre, the Haute-Loire to the east and the Cantal in the south.

It is a region of plains, deep cut river gorges, crater lakes, plateaux, exceptional flora and fauna and extinct volcanic mountains, and the stunning beauty and variety of its landscapes is one of its greatest attractions.

It is no surprise therefore that the Auvergne is one of the great places in Europe for walking. But why just stick to walking? Other activities on offer, in common with most mountainous regions, include ski-ing, cycling (on and off road), orienteering, ballooning, fishing, rock climbing, hang gliding, canoeing, dog sledding – the list is seemingly endless!

The area is home to hundreds of marked paths and trails ranging in difficulty from simple low level walks to more demanding trails for the experienced walker. Many of the walking routes are maintained by volunteer groups who make sure the paths are clear and well signposted.

Many Grand Randonée (GR) paths cross the Auvergne. These are long distance paths often arising in other departments of France. One of the most famous and ancient of these is GR65 part of which passes through the Massif Central and onto Le Puy-en-Velay, one of the starting points for one of the four the pilgrim routes leading to the Shrine of St. James at Santiago de Compostella in North West Spain. Designated GR routes are waymarked in red and white stripes. Shorter walks are often designated as Petite Randonée (PR). Usually circular they are waymarked with single stripes in either blue, yellow, black or green.

The unique volcanic landscape of the Auvergne is a paradise for hill and mountain walkers. Often overlooked by the serious walker in favour of the Alps or Pyrenees the Auvergne offers some stunning scenery with many unspoilt trails, some lovely towns and villages and some great value accommodation.

Many of the best walks are found within the areas two regional nature parks. Created in 1977 the ‘Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d’Auvergne’ covering over 395,000 ha along a north south axis of about 120km/75miles and it’s smaller neighbour the ‘Parc Naturel Régional des Livradois-Forez’ covering 300,000 ha along the line of the Dore valley – make this the largest environmentally protected area in France.

Many plants, not otherwise common in the rest of Europe, can be found here, supported by the fertile volcanic soils. Spring meadows of Narcissi and Alpine daffodils can be seen on many walks. Other common plants include Gentian, Sundews and Martagon lilies. The Auvergne has over 4,500 common and rare species of plants and flower including some forty protected plants.

The climate of the Auvergne ranges from hot, dry summers to harsh, cold winters often with snow on the higher plateaus and peaks. Temperatures average 12 degrees Celsius annually. The winter is best avoided as a time for walking, unless you are prepared to don a pair of snow shoes and trek across the snow covered plains. The rest of the year is ideal for hiking, with the spring and autumn perhaps offering the best conditions for the serious enthusiasts. The stunning autumn colours of the deciduous forests reward the visitor at this time of year.

Almost anywhere in the Auvergne is a good place to walk but some of the principal walking centres of the region are Murat, Saint-Flour, Vic-sur-Cere and Thiézac in the Cantal and La Bourboule, le Mont Dore, St. Nectaire and Besse-en-Chandesse in the de Puy de Dome department.

So if you are an enthusiastic walker and want to discover a relatively unspoilt region of France, head for the Auvergne. Bring plenty of notebook memory for all the photos you will want to take.

————————

Mary Smith is an ex schoolteacher who emigrated to the Auvergne 4 years ago and would love you to come and discover this lovely part of France for yourself. Mary runs a holiday lettings agency, Auvergne France Homes, offering a great choice of comfortable, reasonably priced accommodation. Come and discover the Auvergne for yourself
=>http://www.afhomes.biz

Related posts

• Women only vacation tours (0)
• Vatican City Short Breaks (0)
• Touring Italy – Verona (0)
• Tour of Italy – Southern Veneto (0)
• Tour Italy – central Sardinia (1)

How does Travel Insurance Work?

Travel insurance can be a great investment when you are travelling, but you do need to take some time to find the right policy without going overboard. The complexity of these policies is one thing, but not having them and facing a costly problem is quite another. Before you invest in any travel insurance, take some time to consider the options you have and how much insurance you need.

How It Works:

Travel insurance policies can be taken out for a number of reasons. Each policy has a specific plan or cover in place, which may mean you need to take on several policies to get the full cover you need. On the other hand, this is beneficial because it can help you get only the type of coverage you want and need rather than having too much.

Be careful when selecting travel insurance. You need to get the type of coverage right for your specific trip. In order to select the right type and amount of travel insurance, take some time to consider the options available to you. There are different levels as well as different types of cover available to you. Choose a policy that covers you where you are going.

For example, if you are going overseas, the policy must provide protection in that country. Tailor the type of policy you selected based on the needs in that area, too. For example, a vacation to San Fransisco could provide you with many health care options, however medical expenses in the US are extremely high. Should you need to seek out medical care, you will either need to pay in cash or you will need to have a travel insurance that is suitable.

In addition, depending on the means in which you decide to travel, select the best insurance cover for you. For example, if you are travelling with a lot of baggage or expensive personal items, you may need to consider more travel insurance than if you were carrying only a small bag. Find a policy that covers the types of activities you plan to do. For some, hiring a car will be necessary which means having insurance to protect you from problems with that car.

It is also important to consider travel insurance that will help pay you back when a trip is not longer possible. For example, you have booked and prepaid expenses at your accommodations, for fare and for tours.

Then, you find out that there is a cancellation needed, but these items may not be refundable. Having cancellation cover can be quite helpful because it will kick in and pay for your costs so you are not out a considerable amount of money.

Don’t Settle:

You may find a travel insurance company available rather quickly to provide you with the insurance you need. The issue, though, can be that the travel cover is not likely to be the most competitive rate available.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when getting travel insurance is not shopping around. Talk to several insurance providers to find out what they can offer you and which policies are best suited for the type of travel you will be doing. On some websites, you may be able to find an online calculator to help you get a good idea what the costs are.

What Do Policies Cover?

Every individual travel insurance policy will cover various different circumstances, so you should always read the small print. There are many types of cover available including:

* Travel insurance for medical and dental needs

* Personal liability insurance

* Rental car excess cover

* Delay cover (if you are facing a delay and need to rent a room, this policy may help cover the cost)

* Legal costs

* Cancellation cover

* Baggage cover

* Loss of income

* Domestic pet cover

* Hijacking cover

* Total permanent disability cover

* Accidental death cover

* Domestic services

There are even some very specific policies for such things as golf equipment and skiing protection. In any case, you need to consider the number of risks you face by going on this trip and then choose the right type of insurance cover for you. Read more »

Related posts

• Vacation Rentals Online (0)
• Stay Safe when Travelling on Vacation – 1 (0)
• Save money on vacations (0)

Three Amazing Attractions In London!

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was a project developed by Sam Wanamaker to help us all understand Shakespeare’s plays and appreciate the theatre for which he wrote his plays.

The first part of this tri-part venture is the Globe Theatre itself; no amateur theatre, this, boasting a full professional theatre company which puts on an entertaining season of plays each year. The second part is the Globe Education Trust, which helps students of all ages to understand Shakespeare’s work as it relates to performance and the stage. And the third part is Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, the most comprehensive exhibition in the world about William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. More than 700,000 children, women and men enjoy all these facilities each year – and no wonder, for the Globe is located on a first class site, on the south bank of the River Thames, looking across to St Paul’s Cathedral. Read more »

Related posts

• No related posts.

So you’ve finally decided to book a transatlantic flight but a quick look at the published airfares is threatening to quash your plans before you can even get started. Before you go ahead and cancel all your plans, take a look at these few tips that will help you in your quest for cheap flights from the UK to USA destinations.

Save on Last Minute Flights

Even though prices rise as airlines seats are booked on a flight, it is still possible to find cheap flights from UK to USA. If you need to make that last minute reservation, check out site like Expedia and Opodo. Since these sites search multiple airlines, they can often find the best deals. Expedia offers hotel and flight packages as well, so you can usually save some money by booking combination rates. If you are searching for a package deal, you might check Lastminute.com, they also offer deep discounts for combination deals

Explore Alternatives to the Major Airlines

In your search for cheap flights from UK to USA, you can find smaller companies that offer great deals. You may want to check with a private charter company. These companies often have lower overhead and pass those savings on to customers. You can save with these companies if they have just a few seats left. They would rather book the seats than lose the opportunity. Another option you may find useful is booking a package deal, even if you already have a hotel reservation. Package deals can often be cheaper than a stand alone flight. Simply book the package and stay in which ever hotel you choose. It’s possible if you call early enough in advance, you may be able to cancel your previous hotel stay.

Travel Agents Are Not a Thing of the Past

With today’s new technology and Internet travel site, travel agents can be forgotten in the mix. However, a travel agent can be your best bet for a number of reasons. First of all, they get paid based on a commission of what they book.  This may seem like they would want higher prices. In most cases, this is not true. Travel agents will go out of their way to get you a great deal. Some commission is better than no commission. Secondly, they have access to every major and private airline. They can find you great deals with many options to choose from. Most travel agents have worked out special terms with these airlines and hotels. Finally, you can tell a travel agent when and where and they can put together several packages to choose from. You may be willing to pay a little more for extra features, or you may decide there are things you can live without to save a little money.

Read the Fine Print

Whichever way you decide to go, make sure you read the fine print. Some deals will look really good up front, but when you get to the details, you could have gotten a better price. Some airlines will dazzle you with really cheap flights from UK airports to the USA, and then add on baggage fees, boarding fees, and even mesothelioma fees. Don’t be fooled; read all the details and be sure you are guaranteed a safe, simple, and cheap flight, with no surprises on departure.

————————

Huzaili Aris loves to travel and reveals more tips on how to get cheap airline flights at his website. Get travel destination tips and fun vacation ideas by visiting funvacationideas.com/

Related posts

• Touring Paris – The Seventh Arrondissement (0)
• Save money on holiday (0)
• Russia City Breaks (0)
• London to Hong Kong Flights and Packages (0)
• Guide to EasyJet Flights (0)