Escape To Lanzarote in 2011
The Canarian island of Lanzarote is located in the Atlantic just next to Africa and has been an oasis of warmth for the many people wanting to escape the unprecedented spell of cold that swept through Northern Europe in recent months. As here the daytime temperatures at the beginning of the year are well above those of northern Europe, and 23-25 degrees is not uncommon.
This wonderful weather is definitely one of the major draws for visitors, along with a varied selection of holiday rental properties. With loads of Lanzarote villas and apartments available for tourists to book. The outstanding landscapes and all year round weather also make the island an ideal location for purchasing a holiday home. Attracting a variety of investors trying to find solid returns or alternatively a sunshine holiday home.
Whether you need a holiday break or a reasonably safe and secure sanctuary for your savings the island has a wonderful assortment of resorts, such as Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. As well as a wide variety of holiday hotels and loads of points of interest. Given the sheer diversity of what is on offer hiring a car or a mini bus if you are in a group is definitely the easiest way to get round the island. But if this is not for you then there are loads of guided tours covering the key attractions such as the Timanfaya National Park and the many creations of Cesar Monique. Visitors can book these at the reception desks of their Lanzarote hotels or direct online.
Anyone seeking a more active break will also love Lanzarote, as the weather makes it possible to pursue an outdoor lifestyle whatever the time of the year. And there´s scope for indulging in a wide variety of sports from cycling through to surfing. As a result lots of athletes choose to over winter here, enabling them to train through the toughest months of the year.
One of the greatest things about Lanzarote is the clarity of light during the winter months. Which is in part due to the lack of industrialisation on the island and also its location. As well as day photography, night photography is also un-miss able as the Canary Islands are regarded world wide as one of the top locations for astronomy, so you can image the sort of shots you could come away with.
Making your way to the island of Lanzarote today is comparatively easy, and the flight duration is just four hours or so. Prices have fallen a lot over the last year and flights to Lanzarote now start from about €100. This is probably down to the overwhelming competition between the main players servicing this area.
Best Beaches and Resorts in Lanzarote
Tired of the Spanish mainland for your holidays abroad? Then fly off to the Canaries instead, as these seven islands combine all of the familiarity of Spain with added dashes of African and Latin influences. A legacy of its role centuries ago as a trading post between the New World and the Old.
Lanzarote has been owned by Spain since the 1400’s, but is an autonomous region boasting its own cultural identity, customs and dialect. And if you thought some Spanish resorts were laid back Lanzarote is virtually horizontal. Thanks to the fact that the weather is great here all year round too.
The island is one of the seven Canaries and can be found off the coast of Africa, quite close to the Tropic of Cancer. A long way south of Spain and the European mainland. As a result the island was of great use to Spain during the years of empire and conquest as galleons could dock and refuel here.
Today Lanzarote is all about tourism and the vast majority of visitors arrive by air rather than by sea. From countries such as the UK and Germany which are just a four hour flight away. Many book their own travel but holidays in Lanzarote are still prominent in the brochures of many tour operators and travel companies despite the advent of the internet.
Which is the best resort on Lanzarote? There are three in total, four if you also include the stylish marina of Puerto Calero, which is home to some of the best Lanzarote villas and apartments. But the bulk of the accommodation can be found in Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen. Which are all more like conventional resorts with plenty of shops, bars and restaurants for visitors to enjoy.
Puerto del Carmen is ideal for anyone planning a lively holiday as it has great nightlife alongside excellent beaches. The resort also boasts the biggest selection of apartments in Lanzarote and there are loads of complexes here. Most of them located just a short walk from the main beach of Playa Grande which as the name suggest really dominates the resort.
Playa Blanca is the second most popular destination – and little wonder – as it is home to lots of very good beaches such as Playa Flamingo and Playa Dorada as well as the superb stretches of sand at Papagayo.
Vacations In Nottingham, England
Bring to mind Nottingham and the majority of visitors bring to mind the legend of Robin Hood, his band of merry men, Sherwood Forest and the Sherrif of Nottingham and even though the legend attracts increasing numbers of people each and every year there is a great deal more to the area than you may have thought. Infact the city of Nottingham is home to a respectable number of great local attractions making it an excellent base for a vacation and the article below takes a close look at the city and a small selection of attractions in, and close to, Nottingham, as well as some places offering Nottingham B&B.
Nottingham is located in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England, Great Britain. As well as the legend of Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham, the city is also associated with the lace business especially during the period of the Industrial Revolution when it gained a worldwide reputation.
The Lace Market
At one time the center of the worldwide lace industry, at the peak of the British Empire, Nottingham's Lace Market is, today, a protected heritage area. It features many fine examples of Nineteenth Century industrial architecture. The market wasn't like a normal market area, instead of having salesmen and stall, the lace market was a number of salesrooms and warehouses displaying and selling lace. After the collapse in the lace industry the market became derelict however, today, most of the fine warehouses have been restored and renovated for residential use and other purposes such as photographic studios and similar. The Lace Market is a popular tourist attraction.
Galleries of Justice & Shire Hall
Not a great distance from the Lace Market is the Galleries of Justice situated in Shire Hall. Shire Hall is a Georgian-built civic building which features Neoclassical pilasters, columns and dome. The facade has, if you examine it carefully, a spelling error Goal rather than Gaol. The Hall has 2 excellently preserved courtrooms from the Victorian period and bath house, a women's prison, old cells, an Edwardian police station and a prisoner's exercise yard.
Nottingham is a great place to take a vacation. You will find lots to see and do within the city and an selection number of visitor attractions within easy reach. Nearby places well worth a visit include; Wollaton Hall, Newstead Abbey and Hardwick Hall.
As is common in all B&B in England, accommodation in Nottingham is commonly extremely good at a reasonable rate and many visitors choose to stay in Nottingham for part of their vacation and then elsewhere for the remaining days.
Fantastic Vacations And The City Of York
Increasing numbers of people are deciding to take local vacations this coming year. For the majority of us the decision is to cut costs but is this the correct decision or a terrible mistake? Often many of us overlook the many local tourist attractions and yet they are commonly brilliant and far better than those we see somewhere else. Folk resident in the United Kingdom have a tremendous list of vacation destinations each having a massive collection of top class visitor attractions to visit. In this article I describe the English city of York and York hotel accommodation.
The city of York is found in the north of England and was, a great many years ago, the capital of northern England. With such an ancient city it will not come as a great surprise to discover a huge selection of incredibly old buildings, however you may not expect the breathtaking sight of the 12th century Gothic masterpiece of York Minster.
The first incarnation of York Minster was a humble wood building in which the Northumbrian King Edwin was, in the 7th century, baptised. It wasn’t until the eleventh century that the earliest sunstantial construction made from stone appeared on the site. Constructed by Thomas of Bayeux, a Norman Archbishop it was extended by Archbishop Roger who constructed a north transept and a south transept. After many more additions and alterations it was declared complete and consecrated in the year 1472. Inside features the world’s biggest medieval stained glass window. York has many other places to visit including; the Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, the Roman Bath Museum, the National Railway Museum and Fairfax House.
On top of all of the awesome historic and ancient visitor attractions mentioned above, the city of York is a superb city in which to party the night away or enjoy live music. It that doesn’t excite you then you could spend the evening in a pub there are certainly masses to choose from, to name but a few; The Bluebell Inn, The Minster Inn, The Royal Oak, The Bluebell Inn and the Slug and Lettuce, and, lastly, the Black Swan. Of them all the Black Swan is more than likely the most appealing with a friendly atmosphere and sometimes having live music.
B&B Accommodation In York
As in most UK cities you will discover a massive selection of bed and breakfast accommodation in York ranging from cheap and cheerful guest houses to five star hotels. The Middlethorpe Hall hotel is just two miles from York city centre but gives excellent bed and breakfast with private gardens, steam room, gym and sauna, and you can even get a massage. Other superb hotels in York include; Parsonage Country House Hotel, Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Marriott on Tadcaster Road and Bishops at 135 Holgate Road and one of the best guest houses is Crossways, or if you are in need of something different why not consider Marmadukes Boutique Hotel.
Cape Town, South Africa – Where Two Oceans Meet
Cape Town in South Africa has become one of the top 10 travel destinations on earth during the past couple of years. It comes as no surprise: with a list of ‘must-sees’ longer than that of any other city in Africa and Christmas weather to die for, it’s the ideal destination during the bitter winters of the Northern half of the world.
One of the main reasons for coming to Cape Town is of course its numerous beautiful, white, sandy beaches. When the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is shivering under a layer of snow, those lucky enough to be in Cape Town is basking in the sun, sipping a South African beer.
Cape Town is an ideal family destination. Even if you have a baby in the family that need not stop you from having a holiday filled with fun in the sun. Fly in, rent a car, get baby-friendly accommodation and start to have the time of your life. For the baby’s sake, just make sure the car is fitted with a graco car seat.
Just to illustrate the level of sophistication of many guest houses in Cape Town: our family recently stayed in a guest house which even provided us with a spa baby so we could bath the new family member in the natural, upright position. Not all guest houses will have one of these – enquire before you arrive.
Another favorite tourist attraction of the Mother City, and one that you can hardly miss, is Table Mountain. This colossal massif juts out from the ocean to loom over Cape Town like a mother hen guarding her children. An open secret that all Capetonians know is that if the wind blows on one side of Table Mountain, you are sure to find a peaceful beach free from wind on the opposite side. The view from the top of Table Mountain is incredibly beautiful. You can either hike to the top or take the cable car.
The V&A Waterfront is another of Cape Town’s tourist hotspots. Here you can eat world class seafood in one of the numerous restaurants, visit the luxurious shopping mall or simply stroll along the quay and watch fishing boats come and go. About 30km from the city you will find the first of many wine farms in the region. Here you can not only taste some of South Africa’s top wines, but also dine while looking across vineyards stretching into the distance against a backdrop of blue mountains. At Cape Point you can view the meeting point of two of the world’s giant oceans, the Indian and the Atlantic.
It’s unlikely that you will get a lot of time to read in Cape Town, unless you do so when everyone else is sleeping. If you love reading, make sure to pack your digital book reader. Once the other members of your family are sound asleep, you can proceed to read your best-loved detective story while savoring the fresh sea breeze coming in through the open window…
Hot Summer Holidays In Lanzarote
There are plenty of options for anyone planning their summer holidays in Lanzarote this year. As the island offers a wide range of accommodation encompassing everything from good value studio apartments through to upmarket luxury hotels. All at prices that are much more reasonable than in many other Spanish sunspots.
Lanzarote is located in the Canaries which are popular as both a summer and winter sun destination. Thanks to the fact that they are located off the Atlantic coast of Africa close to the Tropic of Cancer. Basking in warm sunshine all year round as a result.
Package holidays to Lanzarote first went on sale during the 1970´s and proved instantly popular. As holidaymakers vied to visit this new, exotic location. Today that novelty value has obviously worn off a little – but Lanzarote still remains a fascinating destination nonetheless.
It’s very different to the other islands in the chain – such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria. As there is little in the way of trees or vegetation here. Which is due to the fact that Lanzarote experiences very little in the way rainfall – averaging out at around 8mm a month, with no mountains measuring much more than 600 metres. As a result the climate here is dry and arid – much like the desert climate of the nearby Sahara. With temperatures falling quite rapidly come nightfall.
Plenty of the UK´s largest travel companies and tour operators are offering summer breaks in Lanzarote in their brochures. With summer deals starting from around £300 per person. Which buys both flights to Lanzarote and a stay in one of the islands many hotels or apartment complexes.
Hotels in Puerto del Carmen are particularly popular as this it the island’s largest and oldest resort. Which has evolved from a small fishing village called La Tiñosa into a large and modern holiday destination. Tourist authorities have just spent over €16 million on improvements to the resort so there’s never been a better time to visit.
Playa Blanca in the south of the island is also very popular with British holidaymakers. As there’s a wide range of hotels here – as well as a great selection of self catering accommodation.
Generally speaking villas in Playa Blanca are much better value than comparable properties in rival resorts too. With a weeks rental in a two bedroom villa with pool starting at about £400 per week.
Here are 3 amazing animals in Canada
Now i wasn’t sure why, but after i had divulged that these animals lived in Canada i got some odd looks, now i am not sure if it was the piece of knowledge, or if they didn’t believe me. I must say I got the distinct impression not many people knew all that much about Canada, I was a little shocked.
One day a while ago i was speaking to a friend of mine about Polar Bears, he didn’t believe me that they lived in Canada. I then had to take him to a computer and show him the Polar bear Capital of the world. Churchill provides polar bears with a great surrounding and plenty of food for people to eat. There are about 15,000 polar bears in North Canada, probably more than many people think. And at least 1200 of these Polar bears walk through the town of Churchill in autumn.
The Weasel is one of the most fascinating animals of this lot, they also have an amazing collective name – a Boogle! There are only a few places on the planet where the weasel cannot be found, Australia and Antarctica are the exceptions. The Weasel is considered by many to be a cunning creature and is found all over Canada, they eat small rodents. Those that consider them vermin couldn’t be more wrong, especially when they help to dispose of rats and rabbits, much like ferrets.
Now this one I thought would be obvious, but somehow seems to have eluded a whole bunch of people, maybe all my mates just don’t know anything? The Walrus, one of the biggest creatures in Canada, if not the largest (I am pretty sure it is larger than a grizzly). The most defining feature about the Walrus is its tusks, which are not used for feeding; they are just there for show, and for some defence. When the Walrus was around about 15 years ago it was hunted for its meat, blubber and ivory, and was drawn to endangerment, now they are protected and there are over two hundred thousand of them.
So does any of this make you want to go on Canada holidays, I am off on Vancouver holidays all next year, and will be taking as many pictures of animals and wildlife as possible, Canada tours are my forte!
Escape To Lanzarote In 2010
As Northern Europe continues to shiver through one of the toughest winters in over 30 years the sun is still shining just four hours to the south in the Canary Islands. Where holidaymakers are enjoying temperatures in the 20´s Celsius and sunshine aplenty.
The Canary Islands are the closest genuine winter sun destination to major markets such as the UK and Germany and attract millions of tourists every year. Boasting great beaches and high standards of accommodation as well as wonderful year round weather.
Lanzarote is the fourth largest of these seven Spanish owned islands and the most closely located to the coast of West Africa. With tourism concentrated in the three main resorts of Costa Teguise, Playa Blanca and Puerto del Carmen.
The island was first claimed by the Spanish crown in the early 1400´s before becoming an important cog in the growing Spanish empire. Providing a refuelling post for Spanish galleons as they traversed the Atlantic with silver and gold plundered from the Incas.
There’s a wide variety of accommoation options available for anyone planning their holidays in Lanzarote during the course of 2010. There are over 200 hotels located around the island – including six 5 star establishments. As well as an abundance of apartment complexes – especially in the oldest resort of Puerto del Carmen.
The growth of the internet has also led to an upsurge in demand for private rental accommodation. As more and more tourists book their own apartments and villas in Lanzarote direct with the owners online.
As well as great weather and excellent accommodation Lanzarote offers loads for visitors to do and see. The island is also very easy to explore – as it can be covered end to end in around an hour. Whilst car hire in Lanzarote is also very reasonably priced – starting at just €15 per day for a basic rental vehicle.
Top of any visitor’s agenda is a tour of the Timanfaya National Park – Lanzarote´s volcanic region. Which is home to a sea of solidified lava and hundreds of now dormant volcanoes. Which were created by volcanic eruptions which took place during the 1730´s for six years and again in 1824.
Lanzarote is also a real beach lover’s paradise – boasting close to 100 fine stretches of sand. Such as the huge bay at Famara on the island´s North West coast – which extends for around 8km and which is flanked by the majestic sight of the Famara massif range of cliffs.
Thailand Holidays – The Must Have Experiences
With stunning hillsides, rainforests, mountain ranges and incredible ocean settings, Thailand is the perfect place to spend a few weeks, or maybe even years! While Thailand is most famous for its beaches, there is so much more adventure to find in this amazing country. From flying through the jungle like a monkey, to lady-boy’s strutting their stuff, to the biggest water fight in the world, Thailand delivers some serious adventure goods. Here are just a few ideas to spice up your trip…
Zipline Canopy Tour: The Flight of the Gibbon Adventure Tour lies just outside Chiang Mai in a 15 centuries old rainforest. You can access the top and middle layers of this rainforest through a combination of platforms, sky bridges and ziplines. The ziplines are fast, but there are plenty of families and non-adrenalin junkies that aren’t scared off.
Songkran Festival: This annual festival, which starts on April 13th and lasts between 3 and 10 days depending on which part of Thailand you are in, is the highlight of the year for many Thai people. It is a time when Thai people, and tourists in the country, come together to celebrate the new Solar Year. Water is the main component of celebrating this festival. Given that this festival lies in the hottest time of the year, people have their giant super soakers out and buckets out. It is probably the biggest water fight in the world. You will find water fights in almost every small village in Thailand.
Rock Climbing: Climbers of all ages and abilities have been visiting Thailand for years so as to experience the amazing limestone rock formations that are widespread there. Adventurous tourists are also attracted, and several guiding companies have met that demand. Wee’s Climbing School in the south of Thailand has a proven reputation, however, with fame, comes crowds. If you want fewer people, cooler weather, great rock, and excellent guides, head north and check out Chiang Mai Rock Climbing Adventures.
Elephant Nature Park: Elephant parks are plentiful for in Thailand, but one that stands out from the rest is the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand. Set in a beautiful valley which is surrounded by rivers and mountains, there could hardly be a more appropriate place to have built it. The park is located in the province of Chiang Mai, about 60km from the city, and it has provided a home to more than thirty distressed elephants from all over Thailand. It is effectively a rescue center, and it sets itself apart from other elephant parks in Thailand by always respecting the dignity of the elephants that stay there. Therefore, you find any elephant rides or juggling elephants here, just a chance to see and interact with elephants in a natural environment.
Visit this site for raw, unedited experiences of Holidays In Thailand.
Escape to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands
One of Europe’s favourite holiday islands called Lanzarote is located in the Atlantic Ocean not far from the African coastline. And this group of islands were once considered by historians to actually be the long lost city of Atlantis. Today however Lanzarote and the Canaries enjoy the crown of the second most visited region in Spain even though it is not on the European mainland .
The separate islands that make up the Canarian archipelago though are considered to be like chalk and cheese, however as each island enjoys its own quite unique character and cultural development. A typical example of this is the governance of the islands with the eastern islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura being governed from Las Palmas on Gran Canaria. Whilst the islands of El Hierro, La Gomera and La Palma are administered from Tenerife.
Lanzarote hasn’t only been a recent tourist destination though as the islands has been attracting British and foreign visitors since the 1900’s . But modern tourism only started to take off during the 1970´s. As General Franco began to loosen his stranglehold on Spain As the area was in desperate need of a boost to its economy after years of restriction.
It’s amazing how the calming effect of time can change fortunes and today the island welcomes visitors that number into the millions as they arrive from all over Europe and other parts of the world, and bizarrely even tourist from the Spanish mainland. Most of which are very happy to get away from the very hot mainland temperatures in favour of the much more appealing Canarian climate.
The growth of internet usage has changed the tourist market worldwide. And Lanzarote is no exception to this trend. As more and more people eschew traditional travel agencies to build and book their own breaks direct online. This has led to an upsurge in demand for holiday accommodation and villas in Lanzarote. With self catering apartments and villas in the main resorts representing a high percentage of the total number of tourist beds now available on the island.
The most luxurious rental villas in Puerto del Carmen can be located in areas such as Risco Prieto. Which sits right at the top of the Old Town, overlooking the picturesque harbour area which is currently being transformed into a beautiful marina which will have all the trapping of luxury for its visitors.
Whilst vistors preferring to look for villas in Playa Blanca should focus on the Montana Roja and Rubicon Marina areas. As this area has a particularly wide range of quality rental accommodation at reasonable prices.
Not all holidays are cantered around the coastal resorts however, and as more tourist prefer to experience the true atmosphere of the island, rural holiday are increasing in popularity. Visitors that take time out to tour the island are surprised to find how unspoiled it is . This is one of the reasons that prompt many to come back year after year to experience the true Lanzarote in countryside fincas and apartments.