Countryside Trip

I saw an image of Pamukkale from one of my schoolmates back in high school. I did not expect that I will also see it during our vacation in Turkey last year. It was not actually included in our itinerary but our tour guide made a short photo stop in this famous sight of Turkey. I was so happy after seeing it because I only thought that I can only see it in postcards or images online but I was truly there! Amazing beauty of nature!

Pamukkale National Park, Turkey

Pamukkale, means a  “cotton castle” in Turkish. It is  a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water.

With the cost of living constantly on the up, salaries being squeezed and little luxuries put on the backburner, you’d be forgiven for thinking that holidays should be one of the first things you give up when times are frugal. But as we all know, taking time out to escape the daily grind and get away for a few days is an essential part of everyday life.

It doesn’t have to be a luxury getaway or even a trip abroad. It’s all about getting away and putting some distance between you and the stresses and strains of your daily routine. The good news is that if you fancy jetting off to feel the sun on your face and the sand between your toes, the holiday market is packed with special offers. So if you’re searching for cheap holidays from Ireland you’ll find plenty of options and some great prices to boot.

Take late deals for instance. In most cases when you search for holidays departing within the next few weeks, the majority will be significantly cheaper than the original price. Affordable last minute holidays come in many forms and could be a basic self-catering apartment on the Spanish coast, or a four-star getaway near the golf courses of the Algarve.

The best bet is to keep your options open when looking for late deals, and search for as broad a criteria as possible. Availability may be limited so to get the best price, try not to set your heart on a specific hotel or resort if you can help it.

Alternatively if you have a strict criteria and you can’t bear the thought of booking and jetting off within the space of a week, your best bet is to book well in advance. Reserving your holiday well ahead of your preferred departure date – anything up to a year beforehand – means you’ll not only have longer to pay off the cost of your holiday, but most tour operators will offer special deals to early bookers too. Perfect!

Canada is home to some of the world’s best ski and snowboard destinations. Winter sport enthusiasts literally count the sleeps until that first snowfall, and when winter arrives, they rush out to the stunning snow filled Canadian ski slopes.

Those in the know will tell you the best areas for a spot of skiing, snowboarding and winter fun can be found in British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta, and that what newbie’s should be on the lookout for are graceful long runs and sharp drops. Canada offers the most spectacular backdrops, incredible scenery, and a huge variety of winter sports including tobogganing and glacier skiing for the intrepid winter sport enthusiast.

Tabor Mountain is one of those amazing destinations where there is an abundance of heavy snow all throughout the season. With trails that cater to all experience levels, it is hugely popular ski destination for the intermediate snowboarder and skier. And one of the biggest attractions is the extremely fun long run ranging nearly 2 miles right from beginning to end.

Right in the heart of the resplendent backwoods of the Canadian Rockies will bring enthusiastic skiers and snowboarders to the ultimate resort of Powder King. Velvety slopes are perfect for the beginner, and breathtaking runs and sheer drops entice the intrepid snowboarder and skier.

Powder King is also the exciting host to many of the premier winter sports events and it is the exclusive training playground for the Canadian Freestyle team.

If you are visiting Kamloops in British Columbia, then Harper Mountain is the perfect place to take the entire family. It may be a good idea to have your credit card application sorted out and verified before you get there, so that you can hire all your rental equipment and gear you will need for an exciting family winter holiday.

During season, night skiing is a key feature, which even beginners can take part in, and will make for a truly momentous family outing that will not be forgotten in a hurry. You can rent snowboards and get a full season pass, so that your family won’t miss out on anything.

Fernie Alpine Resort has more than 100 demarcated ski and snowboard trails; an abundance of acres of tree trails for the cross country skier that wants to improve their skills and no less than 5 alpine bowls. Heavy snow falls between November and April make Fernie an exciting ski destination that will delight winter sports enthusiasts of all experience levels.

It was like having a road trip in Switzerland but we actually had a bus trip that time. Our  final destination during that trip were the French Riviera and Italian Riviera. We started our trip from Regensburg, Germany. We passed-b through a  lot of towns and cities in Switzerland and Italy as well. I simply love the scenery especially  the hills and mountains in Switzerland.

It was  really a long long long trip but it was worth it all seeing a lot of places including, Monaco,  San Remo, Menton, Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo and some other more. If I still have the chance in the future, I would still love to visit these places again.

That was a superb countryside trip we had in this part of Switzerland.  I got some images for you to see how beautiful  nature is! This was during our trip last spring 2011.

snow-cupped mountains somewhere in Switzerland.

I simply love the amazing view of this nature.

Sign  on the road of Switzerland.

It was so far one of the most memorable travels I had last 2011.  I never expect that I can visit the lovely villages of  Cinque Terre in Italy.

Cinque Terre which means the “Five Lands” or “Five Villages”  is listed  in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It consists of the five coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso located in the Italian region of Liguria.

One of the villages that  we visited was Vernazza.  It  is  a lively and boisterous village and has a great night scene, two clock towers, a beach, boats, and a large public space with umbrellas and tables. I love our short sightseeing this little town.

A street in Vernazza, Italy.  It  was one of the villages we visited during a day sightseeing in Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy.

As any cruise enthusiast will tell you, exploring new destinations is one of the best things about a cruise holiday and regardless of how many times you have visited a specific location, it will always be a different experience when you arrive on a cruise ship.

Whether you opt for all-out luxury or choose bargain last minute cruises, there are many different ways to explore the Mediterranean. Glide into each new port and arrive cool and unflustered – minus the usual stress of hiring a car or worrying about missing the bus. You’ll often get a full day to explore each port along with the chance to join organised tours of the local sights, so do your homework and book in advance if you want to secure a spot.

From Barcelona to Palma, Gibraltar to Cannes, there is a fantastic list of destinations on offer but that doesn’t mean you have to see them all. Instead, you could choose to stay onboard and enjoy a few hours’ peace on the quiet deck, have the pool to yourself, or simply sip a refreshing cocktail while gazing out over the latest cityscape. The choice is yours.

Furthermore, cruise holidays don’t have to come with the luxury price tag. Mediterranean cruise offers are widely available and range from a few short nights to longer itineraries of a fortnight or more. You could snap up a late deal and enjoy huge savings on the original cost of the holiday, or book well ahead and take advantage of numerous early booking deals, along with the chance to spread the cost of your holiday over several months or more.

Whatever you want from your Mediterranean cruise holiday and however you plan to book it, you’ll certainly discover a different side to this sun-soaked destination. Just be warned – you may end up coming back for more.

When it comes to nightlife in the Balearic Islands, your first thought might be Ibiza – the White Isle, and the original clubbing destination. But there’s more to clubbing in the Med than this corner of the Balearic Islands. And in fact you only have to look across the water to neighbouring Majorca to find sizzling nightlife that can rival the best of San Antonio.

Magaluf holidays are all about fun in the sun. Booming bars, cheesy discos and some pretty awesome clubs combine to make this one of the hottest resorts in Europe. It’s like a never-ending happy hour with a little bit of something for everyone, which makes it the perfect escape for everyone from serious clubbers and would-be DJs to those who just like a few drinks after dark.

And if you’re here for some club 18-30 action you’ve come to the right place. The clubbing scene is not for the faint-hearted but if you’re into the latest tunes, world class DJs, top sets and big nights out that last til the small hours, this is definitely where the party’s at.

But before you lose track of time and find yourself back in the departure lounge, one must-do experience on a holiday to Magaluf is a trip to see the Pirates show. It’s all swashbuckling action with sword fights, planks, rippling muscles and the type of ridiculously high acrobatics that will make you gasp out loud. There’s sangria by the jug-load and plenty of comedy – so whether you catch the tame version (which will still have you on the edge of your seat) or plump for the adrenalin-pumping Pirates Uncut, make sure you don’t miss out.

Magaluf is all about sun, sea, sand and siestas on the beach. It’s up there with the best and when it comes to epic nights out, it’s certainly got it all.

Taking a vacation is not always perfect but I can say that our 10-days trip in Turkey last September 2011 was a worth one. I found that time a cheap trip with almost all include on it. The  return  flight with  Lufthansa, accommodations, tour guide, breakfasts  and  dinners, return transportation  in Munich and Istanbul airports and  trips  to  the different places in Turkey  were included to that vacation package.

One of the places we visited was Ayvalik. In fact, we spent three nights to two hotels in the area. Ayvalik is a seaside town on the northwestern Aegean coast of Turkey. It is a district of the Balıkesir Province. We had a walk that time on its coastline.  While walking, a Turkish guy approached  us  and asked if we are Germans. Not  really me but my husband. It is very obvious that I am Asian but only have a German citizenship. Hubby was amazed  because the guy speaks German. He said that he was before in Germany for a contractual  job and that was how he learned German language. He also mentioned that Germany is a very nice country but he have to go back to his hometown in  Ayvalik.

It was so far a lovely  short sightseeing. I love  watching the boats on the  seafront of Ayvalik. Here are image I took during our trip to this town.

The boats on the seafront of Ayvalik, Turkey. © www.countrysidetrip.com

Various archeological studies in the region prove that Ayvalık and its environs were inhabited as early as the prehistoric ages. Joseph Thacher Clarke believed that he had identified it as the site of Kisthene, mentioned by Strabo as a place in ruins at a harbour beyond Cape Pyrrha  Kisthene was further identified by Engin Beksac of Trakya University, as Kiz Ciftlik, near the centre of Gomeç. continue reading here.

I love watching the sunset in Ayvalik, Turkey. The view of the sunset  from our hotel which is around 15 minutes drive to the town center, was more fantastic! © www.countrysidetrip.com

Covent Garden is right in the heart of London’s bustling and famous West End, where you are close to a hat full of world class theatres, the iconic landmarks of Trafalgar Square and more high street shops than you can shake a stick at. There are a good number of hotels for visitors to the district to choose from and they can provide the perfect springboard for an exciting time in the capital. If you’re looking for a Covent Garden hotel offering great value for money then you should certainly consider booking a stay at Travelodge’s residence in the area.

London Eye © www.countrysidetrip.com

Covent Garden itself was little more than fields towards the west of London for much of history but in recent centuries it has risen to prominence, first as a fruit and vegetable market and more recently as a tourist attraction in its own right. You’ll often find crowds gathered around a group of street performers and there are some terrific bars and restaurants in the vicinity. If you venture a little further from the old market area you’ll find row after row of clothing shops, with the famous Carnaby Street nearby and all the goings on of Oxford St and Soho just a short walk away.

And of course if you’re heading to London specifically to see a West End show then a Covent Garden hotel could be the perfect place to stay, with seriously cheap deals available from Travelodge every single day of the year. In addition, staying in the area will give you ready access to many of the best known tourist attractions that London is able to offer. So Westminster is again just a short walk away and you can be strolling along the banks of the Thames by the London Eye and towards Tower Bridge within minutes of polishing off your cornflakes.

There’s no denying that cruising is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to spend a holiday. Aside from the five-star service onboard and the delicious, freshly prepared fare that’s available day and night, you’ll also get to visit a vast range of destinations and have time to explore each new location at your own leisurely pace.

But as with any holiday, it’s a treat which comes with a budget – and finding something that’s comfortably within your means can sometimes be a challenge. If you’re keen to keep the cost of your holiday down or even if you just love a good bargain, one of the best ways to keep it affordable is to search for last minute cruises. Like package holidays, booking a late deal within a few weeks of your departure is usually the cheapest option – and although you’ll face limited availability, you will often save a significant chunk off the original cost of the holiday.

You might even find cut-price upgrades or superior cabins for the same price as the standard room, giving you a wonderful holiday with luxury trimmings without paying lavish prices.
When it comes to searching or booking a holiday, cruises with Thomas Cook offer good value for money along with the reassurance of travelling with a reputable tour operator. In addition the company has partnered with a number of other cruise operators in order to offer a wide range of holidays – offering something to suit every taste and budget from budget weekends and taster cruises to luxury honeymoons.

So whether you’re a budget-conscious traveller seeking a low-cost mini cruise, or a seasoned cruiser looking for your next fix – be it a fortnight itinerary to the Caribbean or a leisurely trip around the Mediterranean, there is an excellent range on offer to suit every taste and budget, whatever you’re looking for.