Barcelona - Spain

Barcelona is Spain's second largest city, with a population of nearly one and half million people (nearly five million in the metropolitan area) and the capital, largest city of Catalonia.

This beautiful city is full of what European cities are known for (outdoor markets, restaurants, shops, museums and churches) and is fantastic for walking with an extensive and reliable Metro system for more far-flung destinations. The core center of town, focused around the Ciutat Vella ("Old City") provides days of enjoyment for those looking to experience the life of Barcelona while the beaches the city was built upon provide sun and relaxation during the long periods of agreeably warm weather.


August is probably the busiest time in Barcelona; at the same time about 10% of shops and restaurants can be found closed from mid-August to early September, when the owners go on vacations.You'll find cheap accommodation and a much quieter city as a vast majority of Spaniards go on vacation in August. Business is low, people from Barcelona tend to be on vacation, hotels that remain open but don't have their business customers tend to lower prices and make offers.

Activities in Barcelona:

• Las Ramblas or La Rambla, a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, 
• Cruise miles of beachfront boardwalk starting from Barceloneta or get a tan on the beach.
• Sit on a wooden bridge to Maremagnum in Ciutat Vella 
• Wander the Barri Gotic in Ciutat Vella, the largely intact pseudo-medieval center of the city.
• Enjoy your Sangria at La Plaça Reial in Ciutat Vella, near the La Rambla Street. Great place to sit,relax and drink. While visiting La Placa Reial
• Walk in Born in Ciutat Vella, a very popular area with great restaurants and places to have a few drinks. 
• Visit a Flamenco Show in a real tablao. 

• Ride the Cable Way to get from the sea front to Montjuïc mountain in Sants-Montjuïc
• Catch a performance at the beautiful Teatre del Liceu or the Palau de la Musica Catalana both in Ciutat Vella.
• Rent a bike or join a Biketour and get to see the highlights of the city in a different way. 
• Join a Barcelona photography walk or masterclass in English 
• Go see some of the famous or small unknown galleries or some mueseums (Museum of Natural History - in the Forum - Museu Blau, CosmoCaixa: Museum of Science - Amazing museum for kids from 4-5 onwards. Adults will really enjoy it also,Tibidabo Amusement Park)

Tenerife Holidays

Tenerife is the number one holiday destination for young travellers looking to let their hair down and take advantage of the next nightlife in the Canary Islands. Although Tenerife does hold a reputation for being the premier place for drunken teens, behind the stereotypical facade Tenerife offers a wide range of fun, lively bars and nightclubs offering something for all tastes. From foam parties to romantic sunset cruises, this island is definitely one of the premier destinations for party goers.

Tenerife experiences a warm climate all year and is said to be an island of eternal spring. This comes as a great advantage to visitors as they can land on the island at any time. The months of December to February have numerous visitors due to the wonderful weather allowing visits to the beaches. August is also buzzing with people as the weather is hot with a lovely and cool sea breeze. If you prefer fewer crowds consider visiting Tenerife in the months of May and October.


There are many places to visit during your tour around Tenerife. There are attractive white sandy beaches where one can relax and sun bathe after long and exciting swims in the oceans. A drive through the pine forests and lunar landscape of Teide National Park would be an experience you don’t want to miss. The national park offers a good view of the volcano on Mt Teide and a ride to its top would grant you a view of other surroundings of the island.

The Siam Park is one of the leading new water parks in the world. It offers everything from meanders on lakes to free fall slides. Lots of exhilarating rides and slides together with a wave pool with gold sand beach offered would be more than you could ask for. Boat trips in Tenerife’s waters allow you a glimpse of dolphins and whales located in the ocean. There is the Masca village located at the sides of mountains north of Tenerife and Cliffs of Los Gigantes which are 600 feet into the Atlantic Ocean among other adventurous sites in the island.

Tenerife offers new and modern bars and restaurants with high quality food from all cultures. Your choice of venue and meals is therefore endless. The local dishes are loaded with lots of tomatoes, zucchinis, green beans and olives. Seafood is also common here and it includes fresh fish such as tuna and others such as crab, eel and lobster. Tenerife dishes are a blend of cultures such as European, African, Spanish and all this greatly contribute to the flavor of the meals. A meal is not complete without sipping some of Tenerife’s national beer, Dorada and other drinks offered on the island.


One of the main party resorts is the stunning Playa de las Americas, where visitors can take their pick from a wide range of night clubs. The liveliest nightspot is Veronica's, one of the oldest nightclubs on the island, offering three floors of bars and clubs with a range of musical genres. One of the most important tips to remember when enjoying a holiday in Tenerife is that the majority of the evening locations do not start to get lively until 1am at least therefore ensure that you pace yourself so you do not miss the end!

Some of the other popular spots on the island include Tramps and Busby's along with the lively British pub venue The Caledonian. The largest carnival will coincide with Shrove Tuesday and visitors will be able to see the island explodes with colour, music and dance. If you plan to visit the island during carnival time, make sure you pack your camera as the parades are known for their eccentricities and vibrancy.

Families planning a holidays to Tenerife may also wish to note that the busier areas of the club are commonly used by 'ladies of the night'.

Planning a Trip to Scotland

A small country by size compared to many countries in Europe, Scotland offers you unparallel delights with plenty of culture, a breathtaking countryside, intriguing history and heritage etc. The climate in Scotland is not as severe as other countries that are located on the same latitude due to the surrounding seas and also the Gulf Stream current. When planning a trip to Scotland you have to count on your luck when it comes to weather since there are no distinct seasonal weather patterns. From warm weather to cold rainy nights, you can expect a variation of it all.

Scotland is well renowned for its magnificent mountains and lakes and these are found mainly in the Highlands. The majority of the islands that belong to Scotland are located mainly off the west coast as well as towards the North of the country. There are frequent ferry rides to the islands if you wish to visit.

The Central Belt is the most populated and where the majority of people live and work in. You have to be cautious when purchasing visitors passes to enter various attractions in Scotland since not all passes take you to all these important places that you plan on visiting including castles, stately homes etc. However there are luxurious castle hotels in Scotland that can offer you a very majestic stay that you can never forget.

Adventure and outdoor sports are also famous activities in Scotland while Golfing is one of the most famous sports in the country. If you would love to go for golfing breaks in Scotland you can simply search for golf resort Scotland and come across a list of places that will interest you. Travelling through Scotland is also not much of a hassle. There is a network of intercity buses that travel to the larger towns while bike hires are available to travel towards rural areas. Trains also have a regular service to the important towns. Car hiring is also a suitable way to travel on your own exploring the country at your own pace.

There are quite a number of restaurants that offer great food and you have to make sure that you place your order at the bar or counter if a waiter does not attend to you after sometime since this creates uneasiness among travellers. Accommodation ranges from caravans, camp sites, self-catering hostels for back packers, holiday cottages and chalets, bed and breakfasts as well as luxury hotels.

Barcelona, The Place to Love and Relax

Barcelona is not only a contemporary and fashionable city, it is also very liberated and this is clearly shown in its magnetism to celebrated artists and architects, where they take roots and become a part of the city in the form of its art and architecture. 

Barcelona houses many great painters and sculptors and they are instrumental in contributing to its superiority over other cities in the form of architecture and art galleries. Pablo Picasso and Tapies both have museums dedicated to their works which will take weeks if not months for you to fully visit. Stretching from La Ramblas covering the old port of Barcelona and the Placa Catalunya, a whole day can be dedicated to walking around the Barri Gothic Quarter with no need to go any further as there plenty to see and do. Wander around the webs of the narrow paths sandwiched between tall buildings which lead to delightful squares, and then take a rest in one of the alfresco cafes full of bustling tapas joints in the area.


Hailed as the creator of several techniques applied in contemporary construction in the twentieth century, the important and ingenious influences of Antoni Gaudi have unquestionably molded Barcelonian architecture. Any architectural trip has to start with Antoni Gaudi, the greatest Catalan architect there ever was.

The must see Gaudi masterpiece is Park Guell, which dates back to 1900 when Eusebi Guell commissioned him to construct a garden city proposed for the cream of the society. Gaudi was very much motivated by nature and this is reflected in the curved construction stones, twisted iron effigies and animate shapes. There are some notable examples in the park including the Gaudi dragon fountain at the entrance adorned in vividly coloured tiling, and Casa Museu Gaudi, the dwelling where Gaudi spent most of his time in. The top of the park can be accessed by a steep climb but it is worth it as you will get an amazing view of the park and the city. There are all types of public spaces to enjoy in the city such as the beaches and parks. Its open spaces can be enjoyed simultaneously by the young or old, from the promenades to the well known Guell Park, and the other would be Park de la Ciudadella, a park in Ciutat Vella famous for its galleries and boating lake.

Make sure you take the Tramvia Blau up Tibidabo Mountain for the amazing views and fun cycling tours where you can discover the natural environment. If you have time left the Funicular de Tibidabo, which will take you all the way to the amusement park at the top, with most of the rides built around 1889, giving the park a traditional ambiance. In addition to architecture, Barcelona is also embraced for its art of living it up at night, where there is a variety of bars and pubs covering virtually every theme for all flavours and budgets.

Barri Gothic and Las Ramblas, both in the city centre, have a wonderful Gothic atmosphere thus exceptionally favoured by foreigners as well as locals. The area is full of cool clubs and bars, and also a wide selection of chic spots together with the usual tourist places. Barcelona also has a great Erasmus scene where you can make new friends quickly and party in selected venues. There is a predominantly distinct electro scene, which is reflected by the number of clubs that thump away all week. There are not a lot of live music venues in the city, however blues and hip hop and alternative are also represented, plus Latin clubs with their salsa are also popular.

Keep in mind that during bank holidays, Christmas, New Year and summer holidays are the peak seasons and will be more expensive than if you choose a weekend break at another time of the year.

Barcelona provides a wide variety of different accommodation types and you should do some homework beforehand to find out what is there.

Visit Ireland

Ireland is an island and the 3rd largest in Europe. Ireland is a heaven for tourists with its breath taking natural scenes and some interesting ancient buildings. To spend holidays in Ireland is the dream of every tourist.

Dublin is the capital of Ireland and is the most visited tourist destination in Ireland. The Dublin Castle is as old as 1204 AD and has some historical significance. The Spire of Dublin is a monument and is 398 ft tall. The top of the monument is lit and it seems like a beacon of light in the dark sky.

Achill Island in Ireland is a stunning island with natural beauty. The cliffs of Croaghaun are the third highest sea cliffs in Europe. The mountain Slievemore in Achill Island is quite interesting as it rises unexpectedly from the relatively plain area. The mountain has an abandoned village.

Stately homes, the grand residential buildings for the royals, were built in Ireland in 17th, 18th and 19th century. Some of them are Castle Ward, Castletown House etc are also famous tourist attractions. Some of these grand places are converted into Five Star Luxury Hotels.

There are three world heritage sites in Ireland.
1. Brú na Bóinne is a combination of tombs, standing stones and henges. Some of them are as old as 32 BC.
2. Skellig Michael aka Great Skellig, is a rare kind of rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean about 9 miles from the cost of Ireland. For six hundred years, the island has been the home of monastic life for Christian monks.
3. The Giant's Causeway is famous for 40,000 connected unique rocks called the basalt columns. This creation is due to some volcanic activity in ancient times.

There are several places to visit in Ireland but County Kerry of Ireland is the most attractive and scenic area in Ireland, as it has a lot of mountains and lakes. Kerry is one of the most popular tourist destinations. The Ross castle of Kerry was built in 15th century and stands today to be a tourist attraction. The Rings of Kerry is a trail for tourists and is as long as 179km. It sports beautiful scenes. Muckross house is a lavish mansion that was built in 1843 for a wealthy couple. It is a beautiful building.The famous killarney towers hotel is also in Kerry.
The Fenit Harbor in Kerry is a very busy port and it is used for many commercial purposes like fishing and trade.

The harbor is under the Irish State. The Fenit Harbor has been an old and traditional port and was used for landing timber, coal, grain etc. The port was also famous for its fish production but now it is not so and the fishing industry has been closed. It is due to the competition from bigger groups around the Europe and also due to the restrictions from the European Union. Samphire Island in Kerry is quite an attraction. A light house is built on the island. The island also sports the sculpture of Saint Brendan. This was made in 2004.

The 10 most beautiful islands in the world

The 10 most beautiful islands in response to the images they evoke, the views of the tourists themselves, the trips and here are the list:

01 .- Bora Bora is the perfect image of what we all consider an exotic island
paradise. Beaches with clear water, clean sand, coral,calm and relax ...
 
02 .- Easter Island: Perhaps your choice is based on the mystery of the famous moaipopulate the island. His enigmatic mission has become an island remembered by all that even chose to be elected New Wonder of the World. 



03 .- La Reunion Island: an island of contrasts, with exotic woods, but with volcanoesassets inside, with beaches and the scenery is always inviting the Indian Ocean. 



04 .- Bali: of course, could not miss. Sure you hear the name just think of exoticdancers, in the ribbons of flowers around their necks, in Balinese music, on the beaches long and wide, in the rice fields dotting the landscape and of course, in their oriental temples. 



05 .- Ko Samui, in Thailand. It is an island that retains its charm because it is not yettourist. We almost dare to say that the charm of the virgin islands and isolated. 



06 .- Santorini, Greece. Oh, sunrise on Santorini. It is one of the most beautiful world. In the Cyclades, Santorini is an outbreak of white foam in the middle of a vast blue sea, deep blue as can be seen rarely, and with less blue sky, which is turns orange when sunrise and sunset. It's an oil, a box that explodes with color and flavor Traditional Greek. 

07 .- La Digue, Seychelles Islands. All we know by the name of the group of islands:Seychelles, but La Digue is the island known.This group of islands is one of the mostrequested by tourists. 

08 .- Capri, Italy. It is the perfect image of the typical Mediterranean island located off the coast of Naples. An historic island where we can enjoy not only its past but also its natural wonders such as the Blue Grotto. 



09 .- Galapagos Islands. For wildlife lovers, Galapagos represents a whole mapprehistoric animal. Apart from its spectacular seabed, also it is great for the turtles, iguanas and sea lions. 





10 .- Djerba, Tunisia. We could not miss another one of those islands capable of mixing the Mediterranean style with Arabic. Djerba is known for its palm trees, olive trees and their homes and those typical Tunisian rural mosques deep blue.

Travel Destination 2012 - Summer

It is common knowledge that summer is the best time to plan for your vacation because you are guaranteed of perfect weather and lots of fun from outdoor activities.

The good news is that summer is here and you have your bags packed ready for that treat as you take a break from the ever-busy work environment. Even then, you are not just sure about the best destination where you can spoil yourself. If you have found yourself in the dilemma of having to decide the perfect spot for your summer holidays then here are a few ideas to set you off.

New York City is one of the best summer destinations because of the numerous attractions that you will enjoy visiting while here such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and of course the Central Park among others. Moreover, New York City is known for holding some of the most spectacular events. Some of the outdoor activities that you can engage in include the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Shakespeare in the Park, Pride week, US Open Tennis Championships and Fourth of July fireworks over Hudson and many more. You could also embark on a sightseeing trip where you get to experience some of the key landmarks giving you a treat of its kind.

The second of the best summer destinations in 2012 is London. Although it has been a loved destination for years, London is one of the hottest destinations this summer because of the two major activities that will be taking place here that effectively bring together a mix of sports, culture and arts. There are a number of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee festivities that you can catch up with while sports lovers can be sure to enjoy the Olympic Games. Apart from the two events, there are also other attractions in London that you can get to sample as you relax and take back memories at the end of your vacation.

France’s capital Paris is another great summer destination that boasts of some of the most romantic cities that are also very stylish. The beauty of Paris that ranges from the fashion scene to architecture and the French cuisine will leave you looking forward for a longer stay here. Even more interesting is the fact that you could choose to take a tour of the attractions in Paris such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysses and the Eiffel Tower on a horse carriage.

The charm of Las Vegas also makes it an all time favorite summer destination. A visit to Las Vegas sure adds some charm to your vacation because not only will you get to enjoy the attractions but also fall in love with the lifestyle of this city, that is considered to be the glitziest in America.

Finally, Rome is also another of the top summer destinations as it is known for its dramatic and sexy lifestyle that simply captures the life of many visitors. Moreover, there are special landmarks like the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica and Colosseum that will never miss on a sightseeing trip.

In summary, there are quite a number of places that you can visit this summer for that extraordinary experience that will leave you with the best of memories.