Cg Shaders - Exotic Holidays, Hotels & Travel

Alicante

The Spanish novelist Gabriel Miró summed up Alicante’s profound relationship with the Mediterranean: “my city is pierced through and through by the Mediterranean” and indeed this is a city that seems defined by its proximity to the sea. Endless golden sandy beaches line the coast, restaurants are filled with freshly caught seafood and a distinct North African cultural influence betrays the vast continent’s presence lurking just over the Mediterranean horizon.

Located in the centre of the Costa Blanca, Alicante shares this popular tourist area’s perfect climate and beautiful beaches but unlike neighboring Benidorm and Torrevieja retains the authentic character of a working Spanish town that exists for more than just tourism. Sure, most visitors will find the lure of the beaches hard to resist and the lively nightlife has much to recommend it but there is plenty that this friendly, historic city offers beyond your standard package holiday destination. If you’re there in the last week of June be sure not to miss the spectacular San Juan fiesta, one of Spain’s most vibrant festivals.

You can find cheap flights to Alicante from Gatwick for as little as £44.68 with Fly Monarch.

Nice

The beautiful city of Nice is one of France’s most enduringly popular holiday destinations, which is hardly surprising, the city seems to epitomise the lasting appeal of the French Riviera. Set on the beautiful Baie des Anges with its yacht lined docks and sparkling turquoise waters the city still seems to exude something of the glamorous jet-setting lifestyle the Cote d’Azure has long been associated with.

It is hard not to be seduced by the city’s elegant Italianate facades, vibrant flower markets and stylish promenades; there are few more pleasant cities to spend time in than this delightful old port. Indeed the city’s history as a popular holiday resort stretches back as far as the 18th century when the self evident charms of its beach lined coastline made it popular with wealthy British vacationers who encouraged the construction of the celebrated Promenade des Anglais (Walk of the English). ‘Le Prom’ remains a much loved spot for a picturesque stroll with both locals and tourists.

It takes little more than an hour to fly to Nice from London and fares are temptingly affordable – at the time of writing Cheap Flights were advertising cheap flights to Nice from Gatwick for a mere £53.

Valletta

The Maltese capital Valletta was famously described by Benjamin Disraeli as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen, Valletta, equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe”. For its remarkable architectural and artistic beauty and significance, especially considering its bijou proportions, I’d be tempted to claim just as much for it today.

Valletta almost feels like a living gallery of baroque architecture and intriguing historical sites, and the city has certainly had an eventful past that spans numerous incarnations under the successive rule of the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians, the Romans and the Byzantines. It is the Knights of St John however who we have to thank its foundation as a “modern” city and much of its stunning architecture. The centerpiece is probably the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral where on top of the breathtakingly opulent interior architecture visitors can behold one off Caravaggio’s great masterpieces, The Beheading of Saint John The Baptist.

China

With the Olympics kicking off in Beijing on August 8^th China looks set to welcome its biggest ever influx of tourists this summer. China offers much beyond Beijing however and perhaps this will be the year that more of us explore some of this vast and culturally diverse country’s more far flung destinations. Sichuan for instance has much to recommend it, particularly the Jiuzhaigou Valley (Valley of the nine villages) a remote region where adventurous travellers will find landscapes of stunning natural beauty resplendent with snow-capped mountains, forests, sparkling lakes and dramatic waterfalls.

Vietnam

A country that has for so long been blighted by associations with the horrors of war, Vietnam has gradually emerged as a popular holiday destination, and with good reason; even as it has been portrayed most regularly in the west as the backdrop for nightmarish scenes of warfare it’s spectacular natural beauty shines through. This is a land blessed with the vibrant splendor of brilliant green patchworks of paddy fields, lush expanses of rainforest and perfect white sand beaches. Indeed Vietnam is perfectly justified in marketing itself as the ‘New Thailand’, a claim that recognising the country’s thrilling beauty but undervalues the unique charms of its determinedly maintained cultural heritage.

Bali

Apparently Advanced bookings are up by a quarter and the general consensus seems to be that this is the year Bali begins to reestablish itself after a prolonged decline in tourism since the 2002 bombings. Bali’s appeal as has never been in doubt and as the perceived threat of terrorism gradually begins to recede it seems inevitable that holidaymakers seeking the ultimate island paradise will start to return to this breathtakingly picturesque jewel in the Indian Ocean.

I was just surfing around Yahoo! for some reason (don’t go there too much as I’m a slave to Google!) and came across their top 5 travel website finds during 2007. The list was:

1. World Reviewer - I signed up to this one, you can take a look at my profile here. It’s like a traveler’s Myspace (without the awful layouts).
2. Black Tomato
3. Picnics on the Piste
4. 20 Days
5. 5 Minutes Away

I’d love to stick all the links in for this, but I’m a busy man! Check out Yahoo! Travel to see the list.

When you’ve forked out for a holiday, you might well have forgotten about the little extra expenses that might not be part of your package. With airport parking you can nearly always turn up on the day, while travel insurance will only cover you for the worst that can happen, and you think that it probably won’t happen to you. But not considering these little extras could cost you a lot more dearly than merely going a little over budget.

Scenario 1:

You get to Gatwick Airport in the height of summer, when planes are heavily weighed by streams of tourists flooding abroad. Not only do you find that airport parking prices seem to be ludicrously expensive, but you also can’t find a space! In the height of the season, airport car parks do get full up, and they also charge on the gate premiums that are up to 60% higher than online prices. Unless you want a whole lot of extra hassle when it comes to something as trivial as parking your car, book online and in good time. The longer you leave it the more expensive it will be, and you run the risk of your preferred car park being full.

Scenario 2:

Having nearly missed the flight because you were driving around Gatwick looking for a parking space that wasn’t astronomically priced, you’ve landed in Greece and you’re at your hotel pool. After a much needed relaxing day you return to the room to discover there’s a few things missing… such as your wallet, your plane tickets and your passport. You didn’t take out cover. You have to replace all of these things yourself. It’s a sad fact that in plenty of places around the world criminals target tourist accommodation and rob people. Unless you get a policy that protects you, you’ll lose out if it happens to you.

You can easily avoid these worst case scenarios by booking travel insurance online. It takes mere minutes to do, and you’ll be able to find the right deal for you straightaway if you use a comparing engine like Travel supermarket. Other useful sites for airport parking and car hire are Lastminute and Essential Travel.

Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain

This new hotel in Spain’s most famous wine region marks Frank Gehry’s first venture into hotels. The Marqués de Riscal is just 90 minutes south of his most iconic architectural statement, the Guggenheim Bilbao and revisits the Pritzker prize winning architect’s signature style of sculptural, twisting titanium which in this instance is said to reflect an impression of flowing wine. Regardless of anything else this hotel seems certain to be popular with architecture buffs although quite apart from its cultural significance the Marqués de Riscal has plenty to recommend it – stylish, comfortable rooms, delightful views across the vineyards of Elciego and a well equipped luxury spa.

Gramercy Park Hotel, New York City

Ok, the Gramercy might not, strictly speaking, be a “new” hotel; in fact it’s become something of a New York institution since it first opened in 1924. It deserves a mention here however for its recent renovation by renowned hotelier Ian Schrager. With the creative assistance of Julian Schnable, who’s wonderfully decadent interior design helps lend a subtle air of bohemian cool to what is a characterful reinvention. The beauty of the new and improved Gramercy is that it stays true to the spirit of the hotel and its illustrious history whilst brilliantly reinventing it.

Rooms start at $495

Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya

Just a fifty minute drive from the hedonistic thrills of Cancun this new retreat on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is situated amidst a tranquil 50 acre environment of mangrove swamps and freshwater lagoons and incorporates a majestic 700 foot white sand beach along with a Greg Norman designed golf course.

The emphasis at the Mayakoba is very much on restful, almost Zen-like recuperation with tastefully furnished, generously portioned rooms and a large spa offering a comprehensive range of treatments. The whole environment feels all the more special for its positioning amongst the tropical jungle that surrounds the hotel. Overall the Fairmont Mayakoba is an impressive integration of extravagant, up to the minute luxury in sympathetic accord with beautiful natural surroundings.

As of 2007 there are 851 world heritage sites as designated by UNESCO. If a site is thought to be of sufficiently outstanding natural or cultural significance it will be given careful consideration for a place on the list. The idea is that whilst these sites are, of course, property of the nations in which they are situated they should also be regarded as effectively belonging to everyone and thus our collective responsibility to protect for future generations. As much as viewing the list as some sort of tourist itinerary would be to diminish its actual function, all the sites are undoubtedly worthwhile places to visit.
We’ve plucked three great sites from the list which we think everyone should visit at least once in their life. You can find a full list of all 851 sites on the official website.

Historic Centre of Cordoba, Spain

One of the most beautiful cities in Spain, Cordoba was declared a world heritage site in 1984. It is quite possibly one of the most historically interesting places in the world. The city has had a long and tumultuous history that has witnessed the rule of numerous different cultures from the Romans to Visigoth to Muslim and Catholic, each of which has left its own pronounced influence on the city’s diverse architectural character. The most famous building and a perfect microcosm of the cities unique architectural appeal is the Mezquita (see photo), a Roman Catholic cathedral that was originally the second largest and probably most magnificent mosque in the world. Each subsequent era in Cordoba’s turbulent cultural history has left a mark on this remarkable building.

Sun seeking travellers will also be pleased to learn that in addition to its many visual delights Cordoba has some of the most consistently hot temperatures in Europe. Cheap flights to Spain can be quickly found online by visiting sites like Skyscanner. Looking for cheap flights to Malaga, an Andalucian destination well serviced by budget flights might offer the best deals for those planning a visit to Cordoba. The best deal we found was available through Cheap Flights at a very reasonable £52 inc. tax flying from Gatwick to Malaga with BA.

City of Valletta, Malta

On visiting Valletta, the capital of Malta, in 1830 Benjamin Disraeli described the city as “a city of palaces built by gentlemen for gentlemen,” and continued “Valletta, equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe”. Not much short of two centuries later it is still just as stunning. Valletta, like Cordoba, is a city that wears its eventful history on its sleeve with its beautifully preserved architecture, much of which dates back to the 16th century and the city’s foundation by the Knights of St John.

For such a bijou city Valletta crams in a spectacular wealth of visual treasures including, most notably, the majestic St John’s Co-Cathedral where on top of the breathtakingly opulent interior architecture visitors can behold one off Caravaggio’s great masterpieces The Beheading of Saint John The Baptist.

Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Australia

A National Park located 1431 km south of Darwin in Australia Northern Territory Uluru-Kata Tjuta’s most famous landmark is Uluru (or Ayers Rock), an immense, monolithic inselberg that has become Australia’s most recognizable natural icon. Uluru, an undeniably breathtaking spectacle of nature no doubt familiar to us all, is also of great significance to the indigenous population with whom visitors can take fascinating walking tours of the park and learn of its diverse flora and fauna as well as get an insight into the aboriginal mythology so deeply connected with this vast and beautiful terrain.

Not everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday involves lounging on an idyllic sun soaked beach in some exotic, far-flung destination, but I think it would be fair to say that finding the ideal beach will always rank amongst the top priorities for plenty of holidaymakers. Of course, everyone’s idea of the perfect beach is going to be slightly different, one mans Copacabana may well be another mans Bognor Regis but, for what it’s worth, we’ve complied a run down of a few of our favourite beaches, all of which we think could make a convincing claim to being the ultimate beach.

Whitehaven, Whitsunday Islands, Queensland, Australia

Of course Australia certainly isn’t short of world-class beaches so the competition for best beach in Oz is pretty hot. We plumped for Whitehaven in the end for its breathtaking, vision of paradise perfection. Really, its hard to imagine a beach that better captures the essence of the ideal beach – remote and secluded behind tropical rain forest, the fine white sand beach stretches for over five miles of calm, crystalline waters.
You can find flights to Australia on Cheapflights.co.uk, the best deal on a flight to Cairns, the nearest airport to Whitehaven, was available at the time of writing for £649, flying from Heathrow.

Cancun, Mexico

This massively popular holiday resort on Mexico’s Yucantan peninsula is a particularly good choice if you like your beach holidays peppered with an unhealthy sprinkling of hedonism. It’s long been the destination of choice for spring break revellers but apart from the partying Cancun has plenty to offer sun-seeking holidaymakers, not least its rather glorious beaches and year-round sun.
Cheap flights to Cancun can be found on sites like Cheap Flights starting at around £300 flying from Gatwick. Alternatively you can find bargain holidays in Cancun on Travelzoo, at the time of writing 7 nights in a 4 star hotel including flights was available for £599 during January and Febuary.

Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Situated in the Indian Ocean off the Eastern coast of Africa, the island of Zanzibar truly is a beach lover’s paradise. There are thirty to choose from but Nungwi is perhaps the jewel in the crown, it ticks all the boxes – white sand, calm azure sea and a backdrop of picturesque fishing villages.

Skegness, England

OK, so you’re probably thinking this is a joke inclusion, it certainly looks rather incongruous next to the sun-kissed tropical paradise of Zanzibar, but hey, Skeggy deserves a place as our representative of the good old English seaside town. Think grey skies, murky, breathtakingly cold waters and soggy chips on the windswept pier as a trail of slightly depressed looking donkeys plod past across the muddy brown sand. Yes this is a beach holiday UK-style, and should retain a place in all our hearts.

Visit Skegness.net for more information.

You may have noticed that earlier this year seven new wonders of the world were announced by the New7Wonderd foundation. The results are particularly notable for being the product of the world’s first global vote, a process that utilised new media –the internet, text voting etc – to record a massive 100 million votes. So in case you missed it at the time (Despite it apparently being such a massive global phenomenon I did) in no particular order here’s the all new 7 wonders of the world:

(Drum roll please…)

Taj Mahal, India

Great Wall of China

Petra, Jordan

Christ Redeemer, Brazil

Machu Picchu, Peru

Chichen Itza, Mexico

Colosseum, Italy

So, how many of those have you seen? I reckon only the unusually well travelled amongst us will have seen them all and perhaps this is one of the more contentious aspects of the vote – just how many of the 100 million voters have seen enough of the sites to make a considered claim for their choice’s greatness?

Interestingly Petra in Jordan probably benefited from the fact that a disproportionate number of that country’s population voted (population 7million, votes 14million!) so inevitably you have to ask questions about the overall validity of the project. But then perhaps this is a little churlish of me, if the list at least inspires more interest in these genuinely remarkable sites then surely that can only be a good thing.

Personally I’m feeling rather inspired to visit a few more of these places and whilst it would probably be wrong to view the list as some sort of travel itinerary – a few more sites to tick off the list – it would seem like a bit of a shame if you went through life without seeing at least one or two of these remarkable testaments to humankind.

You can find out more at new7wonders.com

And if you’re feeling inspired to see any of the sites in the flesh you can find bargain travel deals including cheap flights and holidays to most of these places at Travelzoo.

There are a few mecca-like destinations that every footy fan will want to visit: the Nou Camp in Barcelona, the San Siro in Milan – stadiums that have attained a near mythical status in the minds of football fans everywhere. The notion of incorporating a big game in a weekend city break has become quite popular of late and I must say its sounds like an appealing holiday idea – explore a great city, see some of the sites, experience the local cuisine and top it all off by catching a game in one of the worlds great football venues. Here are a few of the most popular options:

Barcelona

The most popular choice for football tourists and understandably so; with their reputation for skilful, attacking football Barcelona have long been one of Europe’s most enticing football attractions, having added Thierry Henry to an already mouth-watering collection of world class talent that includes the likes of Ronaldinho, Messi and Etto’o, the Nou Camp should see some thrilling football this year. Real Madrid’s Galácticos may be historically more wealthy and successful but Barça have perhaps always had the edge in terms of overall appeal.

Added to the draw of the team is the stadium – The Nou Camp is a cathedral of football, with its towering stands invariably packed to the rafters there are few move iconic sights in the world of football than an illuminated Nou Camp during an evening fixture. And of course I’ve heard the city’s worth a visit too…

You can buy Barcelona tickets on Spanish-fiestas and cheap flights to Barcelona on sites like FlyMonarch.

Milan

With two of the worlds most famous club sides Milan is a city that is absolutely synonymous with the beautiful game. The San Siro, home to both Inter and AC Milan is also one of those venues that football fans are instinctively drawn to. Whilst Inter are probably outperforming their city rivals at the moment with higher average attendances AC Milan might be the better option for those after the quintessential Milanese football experience.

Since officially becoming the Peoples Republic of China in 1997, this vibrant melting pot of cultures has seen many changes and is finally fully accessible for tourists who wish to explore its fascinating culture and history.

The main languages spoken here are still English and Chinese and as a result of its bilingual status, 23 million tourists visited Hong Kong in 2005 alone.

A holiday in Hong Kong allows you to explore the effects of long-term colonialism and observe the unparalleled mix of East and West in this fascinating destination.

Once you arrive there is so much to see in this wonderful place including the world famous sight of the Giant Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery. A visit to the Po Lin Monastery gives you an insight into how a monastery first built by three monks in 1924 has grown to house the world’s largest Buddha statue. Weighing in at a grand 250 tonnes the Giant Buddha is still a welcoming and peaceful sight despite its imposing stature.

While in Hong Kong, it is also essential to visit Aberdeen harbour where skyscrapers juxtapose with the many people who still live a traditional way of life on the waters, here tourists can truly begin to understand how the traditional still exists with the modern. Take a sampan ride to hear how these people live day to day and witness this unique and time-honoured way of life.

Aberdeen harbour is also home to one of Hong Kong’s most famous attractions, Ocean Park. Home to two Giant panda cubs, Le Le and Ying Ying were given to the Park as a gift from the Chinese government and are a truly rare and amazing sight in themselves.

Other great attractions to take in include the peak which as a breath taking vision of modern Hong Kong is unrivalled. One of the top attractions in Hong Kong this amazing vista will stay with you forever and show you this amazing island like no other can.

The Expo Promenade on the Wan Chai waterfront is a flag waving ceremony, which celebrates the return of the former British colony to the People’s Republic. Not to be missed, this stunningly impressive and culturally defining ceremony is on a par with the changing of the guards when it comes to satisfying tourist curiosity and charm.