|
holidays present an opportunity to catch up with family and friends, and to relax and enjoy good food and conversation. Inevitably, there will be the usual family dynamics but most people look forward to sharing the holidays with those that they care about. If you are hosting in your home, however, the organizational responsibilities can sometimes be overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you in your preparations and management of the holiday season. Make Occasions out of Your Preparations
This may come as a surprise to those that still think of Sheffield as an industrial city but it’s officially the greenest city in Europe having won the Entente Florale competition, the international horticultural competition which has been running for more than 25 years. Sheffield is home to over two million trees - more trees per person than any other city in Europe - as well as over 170 woodlands, 78 public parks and 10 public gardens. In total, 61 per cent of Sheffield consists of green space.
To most people, the mere mention of Majorca elicits those all too familiar images of Club 18-30 hotspots - Palma Nova and Magaluf - which have historically been popular with young holidaymakers looking to have a good time. However, Majorca has many resorts which cater towards a more tranquil, easy-going holiday. Majorca is the largest of the Spanish islands and is part of the greater Balearic Islands archipelago. Situated in the Mediterranean Sea, Majorca has been synonymous with the package holiday industry since tourism on the island began in 1952 and is still popular with young holidaymakers and families alike today. But while the younger holidaymaker will undoubtedly seek the fast-paced hustle and bustle of Palma Nova, Alcudia or Magaluf, those holidaymakers looking for a more tranquil time are also well catered for on the island.
Africa probably does not spring to mind as the first destination you would choose when planning a beach holiday, but there are many great reasons to give it a try. Cape Town in South Africa has up until recently always been “the” destination to go to if you wanted to go to Africa and enjoy the beach as well as all the other great things that only this great continent has to offer. Now there are new kids on the block and places like Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania, Mombasa in Kenya and The Gambia have really come in to their own each offering their own unique selling points and flavour of Africa but all great beach holiday destinations.
For those wanting to experience Italy without the crowds and the sometimes unbearable summer heat, a tour of the north has plenty that appeals. Let’s take a look at some must-see highlights. The rise of budget airlines has meant that it has never been easier to find a cheap flight to northern Italy. Both Milan and Verona have busy international airports, with flights from most major European cities. Verona is served by regular flights from London Gatwick, making it a perfect starting point for any tour. If you can’t find a suitably priced flight from Verona, then you might also consider Bologna as a feasible alternative.
By now you know where you’re going, when you’re off and where you’re going to be heading to and maybe even booked your accommodation. But you will still need access to more money while you’re away - there are souvenirs, entrance fees, local transport, meals, tips, coffee’s, tea and scones, etc., etc. that you will need to pay for as you travel to all these incredible places you’re planning to visit.
Packing is an important part of your pre-trip planning. Leaving something behind may not be important if you’re heading off to a major destination where you can probably buy what you need. But travel well off the beaten-track (where the best adventures are usually found) and you could be in trouble. Make sure you can easily identify you luggage. You can get something that has a unique colour or tie a coloured ribbon around the handle - anything that will make your stuff stand out from the crown. It will make it far easier to find in insode a mound of like coloured black backpacks or cases.
Everyone travels at a different rate. What we mean by that is that some like to take it easy and calmly experience what they can while others want to see as much as they can in the shortest possible time and still others are after excitement and tons of adrenaline. You need to be aware of the type of traveler you are and make sure you plan a holiday and choose travel companions who are of the same mind. Go to the wrong place with the wrong people and it will not be what you had hoped it would be. Can you imagine getting caught up in a white water rafting holiday down the Yukon River in mid-winter when all you wanted to do was see local native artifcats and take pictures for the bird-watching club back home?
If you have a desire to see some of the best art in Spain, look no further than the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia on Calle Santa Isabel 52. Among the masterpieces hanging on the walls are works from Solana, Miro and Picasso. One of the most famed pieces of the hundreds of works hanging on the walls of the Queen Sofia is Picasso’s Guernica. That joined with the other works have ranked this museum’s modern art collection as one of the most important not just in Spain, but in all off Europe.
Africa probably does not spring to mind as the first destination you would choose when planning a beach holiday, but there are many great reasons to give it a try. Cape Town in South Africa has up until recently always been “the” destination to go to if you wanted to go to Africa and enjoy the beach as well as all the other great things that only this great continent has to offer. Now there are new kids on the block and places like Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania, Mombasa in Kenya and The Gambia have really come in to their own each offering their own unique selling points and flavour of Africa but all great beach holiday destinations. |
