The tourism industry has seen a massive boom in the recent years, and travel has indeed become a lifestyle statement. As an increasing number of people hit the road this year either solo or with their family and friends, here are some travel trends in 2017. Continue Reading
Europe boasts many world class resorts that will appeal to any type of traveler, but when it comes to find one for family holiday, you are always very careful choosing the right resort based on a number of factors. Here are 5 great destinations in Europe you should consider for your next family holiday:
Almyra, Cyprus
Fashionable, classy and peaceful, Almyra is an excellent family friendly seafront resort on the Mediterranean shoreline of Paphos, Cyprus. It boasts of all the family friendly features you can think of. Its modern design, specious rooms, excellent sea view, yummy foods, kid corners, swimming pools along with excellent service make modern-day luxury accessible to its guests. The most you will like about Almyra is its stunning sea view. Holidays to Cyprus are perfect for families and you can be sure to spend some wonderful and unforgettable days (or weeks) in Almyra.
Just 3km away from the historic fishing port of Sagres, Martinhal is an excellent family friendly seaside resort in Algarve. Its boutique-style villas and rooms with private terraces and balconies make it the most popular resort in the Algarve region. With the main pool set in an elegant wooden terrace, it has 5 beautiful and specious swimming pools in total. Artificial glass tennis courts, children’s corner, wide range of outdoor activities around the resort including surfing lessons, football challenges and paddle tennis will ensure you and your family spend some quality days in Portugal.
Domes of Elounda, Crete
Crete is a stunning Greek island and the Domes of Elounda are simply the perfect place to stay to have the best of this heavenly Greek island. This 5 star resort is located strategically to allow all its guests easily visit the most popular spots in the island. The wonderful villages of Elounda, Agios Nikolaos and Plaka are just a few minutes’ drive from the resort. So, you can visit these villages with your family with utmost comfort. The family friendly features such as a good number of activities for children such as water sports, swimming, drawing lessons, tennis lessons, baby equipments of all kinds and special rooms and suites make it a perfect resort to stay for a family holiday.
Potters Resort, England
Located on 65 acres of land on the coastal border of Suffolk and Norfolk, England, Potters Resort is an excellent resort to have a wonderful family holiday. Its facilities are nicely matched for families with toddlers and grandparents. With children’s club, wide range of entertainment arrangements for guests of all age, you can expect to have some wonderful days in this luxury resort.
If you are looking for a perfect family friendly resort in Italy, Club Med can be the perfect choice for you. Located in colorful squares and charming alleyways beside UNESCO world heritage site of Syracusa, this wonderful resort is has all the facilities and arrangements you need to have an unforgettable holiday in Italy.
Image by George M. Groutas Freebird_71 under creative common license
There are a whole host of reasons that people flock to Italy for their holidays. A combination of great food, rich culture, stunning architecture and the superb Mediterranean weather all go some way to encouraging over 50,000 tourists to visit the country every year.
With tourist-heavy cities such as the capital, Rome, the magnificent city on water that is Venice and the bustling metropolis of Milan, you might ask what else there is to see in this diverse and beautiful country.
If you’re considering a more tranquil holiday away from the tourist hubs, then here are some places that give you everything Italy has to offer, without the crowds.
Italy’s Best Kept Secrets
Lazio
The tourists might be flooding to Rome, but the tranquil setting of Lazio offers fewer crowds, gorgeous scenery as well as authentic Italian cuisine. These beautiful surroundings make it the perfect place to take a leisurely lunch and enjoy the culinary delights of baked fish and delicious cheese boards.
Locals like to relax and unwind in one of the many natural hot springs. For those who like to see the wilder side of Italy, Monte Rufeno Nature Reserve covers more than 7,000 acres of oak-covered forest.
Umbria
Known as the ‘green heart of Italy’ Umbria is famed for its sprawling landscapes and gorgeous countryside. The region is home to some charming medieval towns and rustic villages with the towns of Assisi, Perugia, Arezzo and Gubbio close by where you’ll discover some of the most important art from the Italian Renaissance.
With excellent food, wine and sightseeing, Umbria is the perfect location to relax and unwind away from the crowds, yet still absorb the rich Italian culture.
Abruzzo
Located between the Adriatic Sea and Apennine mountains, Abruzzo is one of the most diverse places to visit. Over a third of the region is home to protected areas or heritage sites, which include Abruzzo National park.
Winter is the perfect time to visit if you fancy hitting the slopes, as there are ski areas in abundance. For a taste of culture, you’ll find castles and medieval towns all over the area, which are generally free from the tourist masses.
There is a diverse range of amazing places in Italy that are almost entirely ignored by tourists who, instead, choose to visit one of the more well-known cultural hubs. With so much of Italy that begs to be discovered, it’s worth thinking outside the tourist box!
Acknowledged as one of the principal birthplaces of western culture, Italy is home to a rich array of cultural treasures. Here you’ll find everything from artistic masterpieces and mouth-watering cuisine to stunning fashion and breathtaking landscapes; not to mention more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country in the world.
So, if you’re a culture vulture and a visit to Italy sounds like the trip of a lifetime take a look at our guide to Italy’s cultural delights.
Italy’s Cultural Delights
Venice Carnavale
Each year in February, thousands of people flock to Venice to be a part of the city’s huge theatrical festivity known as Venice Carnavale. Beginning forty days before Easter and ending on Shrove Tuesday, the carnival sees Venetian residents don masquerade garb and fill the streets for several weeks of traditional frivolity. Activities and events take place in Venice’s many palaces and theatres, as well as in the streets and squares of the old city.
Vatican City
No trip to Italy’s capital would be complete without a visit to the country’s cultural heart: Vatican City. One of the most significant places to the Christian religion, Vatican City is also the world’s smallest state and home to a glorious spread of awe-inspiring architecture and historical sites. St Peter’s Basilica dominates the landscape and a climb up the 323 steps to the basilica’s dome should be at the top of any tourist’s itinerary.
Colosseum
Another ‘must see’ for history buffs is Rome’s most extraordinary monument: the Colosseum. The amphitheatre is the largest ever built by the Roman Empire and is considered by many to be one of the greatest works of Roman architecture. Completed in 80AD, much of the structure still remains, with visitors able to explore the site, absorbing the magnificent grandeur of the place as well as attaining a sense of the gory events that once took place here.
Uffizi Gallery
One of the oldest and well known galleries in the world, Uffizi Gallery is arguably the cultural highlight of Florence. Over 1.5 million people visit the 16th century palace encompassing one of the greatest art galleries in the world. Works of arts include some of the finest paintings to emerge from the city as well as masterpieces from throughout the rest of Europe from the 13th to 18th century.
Holiday insurance is vital for any trip abroad, whether meandering through Italy’s cobbled streets or hitting the ski slopes. It’s an essential part of any holiday, but you need to make the right choice. If your trip to Italy is your only holiday of the year, opt for single trip travel insurance, whereas if you’re off abroad a number of times make sure you’re fully covered with multi-trip travel insurance