Travel

Self catering camping holidays in France can allow you to explore the many beautiful regions and cultures of our nearest neighbors’.

A camping holiday in France is a great choice for a family holiday with bountiful amounts of freedom, sunshine and of course, value for money.

It is the ideal short break or even a long weekend for any family willing to explore the many different aspects to a camping holiday. There are many different campsite companies offering summer deals in France, and with one in five Britons choosing camping holidays last year, France is the perfect destination.

The many popular regions holiday makers discover include Brittany, Normandy and Picardy in the north of France or try heading south to the likes of Marseille and Perpignan. Whether you’re looking for sunshine and culture in Monaco or a weekend away with loved one in the romantic city of Paris, France offers many camping holidays at affordable prices.

France may conjure up ideas of cheese and wine tasting weekends, traditional castles and cathedrals to visit, long, clean, sandy beaches and major cities are just a few reasons why France is the place to be.

Many campsites offer basic amenities including toilets and showers, as well as on-site shops, restaurants, bars and swimming pools. Campsites are usually located outside cities in the countryside, where beautiful scenery and wildlife surround the areas, perfect for exploring.

The regions of Jura and Cevennes are particularly good for walkers, but if you’d prefer be a beach bum, then Brittany is the region boasting some of the best beaches in the country.

Many campsites also offer free bike hire to enable you to explore the regions with greater detail, and to get to those places where walking won’t allow.

France is the perfect destination for all your camping holiday needs. Cheap, beautiful and cultured… what more could you ask for out of a holiday?

One great destination for family holidays is France. France Holidays are one memorable experience. Most people think that holidays to France are expensive. Not so. If you know the right places to go, you can get a bargain.

If you like the outdoors and don’t mind the company of other tourists then camping would be a good idea. Camping is not only fun and adventurous, it is also relatively cheaper compared to staying in a fancy hotel or even just an average hotel in France.

If one wants to go on camping holiday in France, the Bois De Bologne caravan park and campground in Paris is one magnificent place that you should consider. This is the city’s very popular camping ground. Despite its immense popularity, the price for staying is surprisingly not prohibitive. A plot of land at the campsite with electricity will only cost you around 30 Euros per day.

If you are traveling with a group like your friends or family, camping is definitely ideal. A room at a mid-range hotel will cost a lot for two people. But in a campsite, you can rent a plot for 30 Euros. If you are traveling with family or friends then cottages at campsites that can house six or more people would be a more ideal arrangement. This is a better alternative than paying for a much-larger but definitely more expensive family suite room in hotels.

The Bois De Bologne Park is accessible to all the interesting sights and scenes in Paris. It is walking distance to the wonderful tourist spots like the Longchamp Racecourse, a horse-racing facility, an amusement park for children Jardin d’Acclimatation and a botanical garden Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil.

Other interesting camps to visit are the municipal camp at Capestang. This camp offers an unhampered view to the Midi Canal, the Pont de Limuel at Limuel beside a river. A municipal camp at Moissac on the River Tarn is another must-see place if you want to go camping.

A good way to spend camping would be to rent a motor home. Motor homes are called camping car in France. You can shop at nearby supermarkets and local markets so you can make home-cooked meals at the camp. Eating home-cooked meals is certainly one amenity that you cannot enjoy in a hotel.

Whether you are visiting Barcelona for the first time or returning as a regular visitor you will soon realize that Barcelona is a great place for those who enjoy shopping. There are so many places to choose from ranging from specialty shops to designer stores. Regardless of what you are looking to purchase you can find it in this beautiful city. Many cities are known for their historical architecture but when it comes to Barcelona they are as well known for their shopping as they are for the history behind it. Below are several of the top choices for shopping locations in Barcelona.

The Paseo de Gracia is the famous street that is lined with many of the most expensive shops that can be found in Barcelona. This street runs directly from Plaza Catalunya along to the metro Diagonal. Famous shops that can be found here sell designer merchandise such as D&G, Gucci, Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, and Desigual.

Other popular areas include Portal de L’Angel, La Rocca Village, Diagonal Mar, L’Illa, Raval, Gracia, Encants Mercat, El Borne, and El Corte Ingles. These each offer a unique shopping experience and house a variety of goods ranging from clothes and shoes, to art and unique items.

The prices for items depend on which area of the city you buy them from and if you are looking for designer or knock off versions.

Once you grow tired from shopping there are many restaurants, cafes, and pubs along the way where you can relax and enjoy a delicious meal. The shopping experience in Barcelona is like no other and is a memory that you will definitely carry with you for years to come.Also you should book early an barcelona hotels

If you are looking for a place to vacation this year you should consider Amsterdam. There are several reasons why you should visit Amsterdam ranging from historical reasons to just the beauty and serenity that it has to offer. Regardless of your age or personal interests you can find something here to please your taste. You should before booking, to take a look at Amsterdam hotels

For those who are history or at buffs you will enjoy the many museums that are available in Amsterdam. They have a variety ranging from famous wax museums, to elegant art, historical warfare or galleries. The décor in these museums are unique and beyond elegant. Amongst the more popular ones include Van Gogh Museum, The Rjksmuseum, and The Anne Frank Museum.

Canal tours are very popular in Amsterdam so if you like the water you will love this experience. You will learn about the history of the city and enjoy a peaceful ride along the canal. This will give you the opportunity to experience the break taking views.

Amsterdam is also well known for the nightlife scene. If you enjoy fabulous food, dancing, and great clubbing this could definitely be where you find it. Along with the nightlife you will find a large variety of shopping centers, markets, music, and other special adventures just waiting for you to take advantage of.

If you have never visited Amsterdam it should definitely be placed on your list as one to visit very soon as it has much to offer and the experiences that you will endure while visiting will be unlike any other.

London is one of the most fancy capital from Europe. Here you can easy say that you can find everything you need regarding the cultural side of it. You can find many art events every day, from music concerts, to movies, art exhibitions, theatre shows .You can buy London theatre tickets also online, that is the most secure method in order to be sure that you have your seat reserved.

You can choose from some of the most famous art galleries that are free: The National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern or you can pick one that is charging: Royal Academy or Hayward Gallery.

If you want to visit an museum and you never visit one in London maybe you should start with the British Museum. Also science Museum and Tate Gallery should be taken in consideration.

If you want to listen to some live music you can choose between rock, latino, Jazz, everything can be found quite near the center of London.

If you are a gold player , and you enjoy to play golf in your holiday, than going into vacation in a nice golf resorts will fit you.

Depending on the budget you can find a wide range of golf resorts.  Golf is not a cheap hobby so also a nice golf Holiday will cost you some cash. The biggest variety of golf resorts can be found in Uk. Here you can find some luxurious resorts like The Celtic Manor in Wales a 5 star resort located on 1400 acres. It’s an expensive resort but very big.

Another UK choice can be Gleneagles, 850 acres located in Perthshire countryside. Here there are plenty of celebrities that are playing golf or enjoying the spa.

Anoher popular location for golf breaks is La Manga on the Costa Calida in Spain. A big difference is that here you will find sunny weather almost the entire year. This golf resorts has been desemnated as been the European Golf Resort of the Year , during different years.Another Spain popular locations is  SotoGrande situated in Cadiz.

You can also find a nice resort in Turkey, like Sueno Golf Resort situated in the Antalya region, or in Portugal Praia D’Ei Rey located near Lisbon, Portugal.

These restaurants offer menus available at reasonable rates, rather than in the majority of Paris hotels where even if you have a restaurant, food will never be the same with these ones. They are managed to keep interest and attention to details that you expect from the French cuisine.

Chartier is a restaurant from the Belle Epoque which attracts lots of people for its elegant dining room, sociable waiters, and above all, cheap and traditional price. The menu is classic. Gaskets start from 2 euros, main courses cost between six and eight euros and 3 kinds of them can be enjoyed for 20 euros maximum.

La Table du Marquis is another restaurant which is specialized in Southern French cuisine. A set menu with appetizer, main course and dessert cost around 19 euros, while seasonal daily menus cost 12 euros. A glass of wine cost 3.50 euros and apecialities include bacon persillade with vinegar, Pollock thread with fennel, pear and chocolate tart.

This cozy restaurant in the middle of Marais district shows that the popularity is not on the same wavelength with the overprice. In a neo-kitch building anyone can take a lunch menu that includes appetizer, main dish, dessert and a quarter bottle of wine for aproxomativ 10-20 euros. Le Petit Picard is known for generous portions and serving utensils.

Chez Papa has several addresses in the city, and is constantly crowded and noisy. Known as one of the best places in town for menus and copious salads in a southwestern French style, you can enjoy something delicious as magret of Canard with leeks, or pan-seared with pieces of Sweet for less than 20 euros. Lunch menus are about 10 euros and a glass of wine are included in the budget for 3 Euro a glass of it.

London is the capital of England and the UK. Is the most important political, financial, cultural and artistic center and one of the most important cities in the world.

City of London is the historical city center, and also the most important financial district of the United Kingdom. It is administered by the Corporation of London, led by Lord Mayor of London. The city has its own police corps, separated from the Metropolitan Police.

Bucking Palace is one of London’s attractions, because everybody wants to see where the Queen of England lives. A great tip is that if the British flag is flown on the palace, the queen is at home at that time. Changing the guard is known to be a traditional and long-awaited moment of tourists which takes place at certain times of the year, only in summer not, every two days, at different times, which you should find out.

West End is the commercial and entertainment district of London. Trafalgar Square is the most important goal. Oxford Street is one of the most popular shopping streets, where are many famous supermarkets such as Selfridges, Marks and Spencer. Another famous street is Tottenham Court Road for electronics stores, computer and musical instruments. To the south of the eastern end of Oxford Street is located Soho bohemian district of London, full of cafes, pubs, clubs and sex shops. East of the London city was the center of industry in the nineteenth century. German bombing of 1940,starting in the 1950s, with the decay of the Port of London and moving of the industry outside the city, led to abandonment of many buildings and lands, and to a desolate part of the area generally. 2012 Olympic Games in east of London will offer the opportunity of a more attractive area regeneration. Docklands, the old port of London, was a successful experiment of regeneration.

Another reason why this is so important, due to the London hotels luxury. Around there are 51 Buckingham Gate(5-stars hotel), Metropolitan(5-stars), Thistle Westminster(4-stars hotel) which are offering luxurious hotel accommodations, special events rooms and even elegant wedding rooms for just married.

The Grand is another hotel situated in the Trafalgar Square and has an important historic role, it’s close to the major attractions of London.

Italy, the birthplace of pasta and pizza provides a wide range of choices for artwork lovers to experience. A temperate climate exists here with very hot summers and not so cold winters. The weather is the best in spring and autumn with pleasant temperatures and scenic views. At that time of the year, the place isnít crowded much and things can be enjoyed in leisure.  Incase of emergency call 112. For fire call 115 and for ambulance call 118.

Culture

Italian is widely spoken and is the official language. English isnít very familiar to the locals. Family ties are of utmost importance here and hence social courtesies mean a lot to the locals. There is a great impact of the Roman Catholic Church on the culture here. There is a high content of chlorine in tap waters, so bottled water is recommended for staying fit during the trip. Since Italian is spoken on a wide scale, it is highly recommended to learn few common Italian phrases which can be of great use. Social gatherings call for formal wear, but one can dress in casuals otherwise. At some religious places, sleeveless shirt and shorts are frowned upon. So they are better avoided. Purses and wallets should be well guarded and in case of any theft, police should be informed about the incident.

Site Seeing

The first thing to check out is the leaning tower of Pisa, where Olympics originated. At places like museums and art galleries, photography, especially flash photography is restricted. Check out the ticket counter for more information. Italy should be majorly discovered on foot for a thorough viewing of all the beautiful buildings and monuments. Coaches and trains are a good option to get to a tourist spot.

Shopping

Shops here are open from 9am to 8pm, closed for lunch. Quality of goods is great although the prices are very less. Items like crystals, lacework, leather good, and jewelry can be bought at the stores. Remember to hold on to the receipt. Tipping of 10% is customary along with the service tax levied on the bill. Italy is famous for top designers of the world, so do buy clothes and accessories to update your wardrobe. Cruises have formal gatherings in the evening, so ensure to buy a cocktail dress or some formal wear, though casuals can be worn at other times.

Electricity

The voltage used is 220 volts and 50 Hz frequency.

Getting there

Alitalia is the national airline of Italy.  Many other flights connect to Italy from USA, Canada and Australia and there is big competition to attract passengers giving a wide range of offers to travelers.  Rome airport is located 26 km away from the city and it takes 45 minutes to get there from the airport.  Trains connect directly to Termini Station from where one can take taxi to get to their destination. Duty free shops, bank, car hire and restaurants are the other services provided at this airport. Milan has another famous airport here, which is at a distance of 45km away from the city.

Brindisi, Ancona, Naples and Venice are the major seaports of Italy. Italian State Railways connects many European cities. But, Eurostar provides the fastest train service.

If choosing to drive, donít forget to carry international driving license and international insurance certificate. Roads connect Italy to France, Austria and Switzerland. Many coach services are provided from the neighboring countries.

Duty Free Items

1. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250g of tobacco
2. 2liter of wine and 1liter of spirits (over 22 per cent) or 2liter of fortified or sparkling wine
3. 50g of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; 500g of coffee or 200g of coffee extract (if over 15 years of age)
4. 100g of tea or 40g of tea extract
5. Gifts not exceeding Ä89.96 (if entering from an EU country), Ä175 (if entering from a non-EU country).

Albania is a mountainous country and the one of the smallest countries of Europe. The residents supposedly descended from ancient Illyrians.

Culture

The culture of Albania is majorly influenced by that of the mainland Greeks especially in the urban locality; nodding oneís head means ënoí where as shaking the head means ëyesí. To greet someone, handshaking is preferred, though Shoku (Comrade) was used before, which has been long forgotten now. People dress informally here. Swim suits are meant for the beaches, otherwise women are expected not to dress in a revealing outfit. When addressing someone prefix Zoti(Mr) or Zonja(Mrs) before the name and always remember to carry some gifts when visiting someone, although flowers arenít much acceptable. The guests are served with coffee, raki or sweets. Smokers donít have to worry much, but they should avoid it where they see a sign of Ndalohet Duhani or Ndalohet pirja e duhanit.

Travelling within the country

Buses with relatively cheap fares operate in the main cities of the country or taxis are another choice which provided service for some main hotels.
Visit Dajti Mountain and experience Dajti Ekspres Cable car for an unforgettable 15 minute ride passing through Dajt Oark to reach Tirana. The route is about 4.2 km long and the ride costs Ä6.5.Alpha Yachting provides crewed yacht which is a luxury in itself. Tirana Bank is the best place for withdrawing money as it allows access to Visa cards.

Eating Out

Restaurants are not always sufficiently heated, so always wear warm clothes if out in the night during winters. Foreigners are charged more than the locals. Both the entry fees as well as any merchandise will be on a higher scale, so itís better not to reveal the fact that you are a foreigner when out on the streets.

Site Seeing

If you enjoy canoeing, this is the right place to be. There are places right outside Tirana which is an amazing site for not just canoeing, but also rock climbing, hiking, and camping.

Accommodation

If you want a 5-Star ambience, try The Sheraton Tirana Hotel and Towers, which is situated in the middle of a shopping and entertainment center. There are about 151 rooms and 56 suites. So, along with the comfort, one can shop at once convenience here. Another hotel which provides all modern facilities is Hotel Mondial. It is located 1000 m away from the city and is also a good example of traditional architecture.

Getting There

One of the best and the easiest means is to go by air. Albanian Airlines is the national airline which works in collaboration with Tyrolean Airways, and provides service to almost all the big European cities. The airport, Mother Teresa, is 16 miles or 26 km away from the capital. A tourist bus is available every 3 hrs to get to the city center and takes about 30 minutes to get there. Taxis are available round the clock. While waiting for any transport service, tourists can check out the duty free shops, bank, eateries and car hire at the airport. A departure tax of $10 USD is imposed on all foreign nationals. Check out www.flyalbanian .com for flight times and offers.

If trying to get there by sea, try the ferry services which are provided by Adriatic Line and Agoudimos. The main ports are Durres (has ferry connection to Italy, Bari, Brindisi, Trieste, and Ancona), Vlora (has ferry connection to Bari, and Brindisi), Saranda (has connection to Corfu), Shen Gjini (has ferry connection to Bari). Check out www.adriatica.it and www.aqoudimos-lines.com for more information.

Bus is another option. Buses start from Istanbul, Athens and Sofia. Internal passengers have lots of options with bus services provided. If traveling by road in a private car, there is road network to the Kosovo region, but they are too dangerous to use because of the political tensions within the region. Crossings at Hani I Hotit, Bllata, Oafa e Thaes, Tushemisht, Gorica, Kapshtica, and kakavija can be taken. If tired one can take halts at hotels or other designated areas. There is a network of 18,000 km, out of which only 7450 km are main roads, for local travelers. About 2138km stretch of these roads is in poor condition and has pot holes, and utmost safety precautions should be taken when driving on such roads. Speed limit should be strictly followed on highways as well as within towns. Driving at night should be better avoided because of the absence of street lights on the road except for urban areas. Traffic should drive on the right-hand. There is a shortage of gas stations in the countryside, so filling the gas tank completely when passing through urban area is recommended and since there is lack of national recovery system; travelers should be prepared for an emergency or breakdown before hand. One should carry necessary documents like International Driving Permit and national driving license.

Duty Free Items

Following are the items that can be carried without customs duty being levied on them:
1. 1liter of spirits or 2liter of wine
2. 250ml of eau de toilette
3. 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
4. 50ml of perfume.

Prohibited Items

Things that are prohibited to carry are firearms, narcotics and ammunitions. Special export permission should be taken for precious metals, books, antiques, work of art, or material of national or historic value.