Destination Archives - Page 22 of 44

May 2, 2014 by jfalbelda

Check Out The Active Side of Edinburgh!

We all know Edinburgh is world famous as a mecca for culture and history lovers but what if you’re happier getting active out and about than wandering round an art gallery on a Saturday morning? Well the good news is that Edinburgh has a dazzling choice of activities to keep even the most energetic adrenalin junkie happy. Also, the fact that Edinburgh’s Travelodges are dotted all over the city means that you’re never too far from a comfortable bed to rest those thoroughly worked-out bones.

Skiing

Yes, you can squeeze in a bit of slope action on your city break at Midlothian Snowsports Centre, located in the shadow of the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of the city. Whether you’re an old pro at skiing or snowboarding or a complete newbie, you’ll find something to suit you here. There’s also tubing, which is bound to be a big hit with the kids. But if you’d rather poke your own eyes out than don a pair of skis, why not just enjoy the views from a chairlift ride then settle down in the café with a good book while the others wear themselves out on the slopes?

Walking

Pack your walking boots because Edinburgh has some stunning walks that combine exercise and sightseeing perfectly. A hike up the extinct volcano Arthur’s Seat will reward you with the most stunning panoramic views of the city and the sea beyond. Alternatively, walk up Calton Hill to see the unfinished National Monument and find out for yourself why Edinburgh is nicknamed the Athens of the North. A climb to the top of the Scott Monument (no there aren’t any lifts!) will reward you with yet more incredible city views.

Rock Climbing

When you first see the climbing area at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, you could be forgiven for feeling a few butterflies in your stomach. This dramatic arena is challenging enough to have been host to the British Championships, but don’t let that put you off – they cater for everyone from total beginners to expert Spiderman wannabes. The arena is also home to a fabulous café and Scrambles, a modern, spacious soft play centre that means even the tiniest climbers in your family will be kept entertained.

Cycling

As befits the hometown of Olympic cycling hero Sir Chris Hoy, Edinburgh is a fantastic city to cycle in due to its relatively small size and abundance of green open spaces (watch out for those hills though!). So much so that it’s celebrating all things two-wheeled with the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling between June 12th and 22nd. If you’re not around then, you can still enjoy the biking life by looking up safe and pretty cycle routes from Edinburgh Council’s website.

All these ideas have hopefully given you food for thought for an action-packed city trip. But don’t forget Edinburgh is a great city to see on foot, so even if you’re just wandering from shop to gallery, you’ll be getting a good workout!

May 2, 2014 by jfalbelda

Enjoy the Magic of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships!

Summer is undoubtedly the best time of year to visit Britain, as you’ll get the best of the UK weather. Although you can never guarantee wall to wall sunshine, you get some lovely weather during the summer months of May through to September and there is always lots going on at this time of year, wherever you decide to visit.

Coming up in June is one of the world’s biggest tennis tournaments – the Wimbledon Championships. This fortnight of tennis is one of the most eagerly anticipated events in the UK sports calendar, and as it’s the oldest Grand Slam and the only one to be played on grass, it’s one that all the big names in tennis want to win.

This year, the favourite four to win the Men’s Championship are Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. At the moment, Nadal and Djokovic are numbers one and two respectively in the world tennis rankings. Andy Murray won the tournament last year, ending a 77 year period where there hadn’t been a British winner in the Men’s Singles at Wimbledon. Federer is the oldest of the four, but has the best record at Wimbledon, having won the tournament seven times, a feat only equalled by Pete Sampras. This year could be the year that Federer makes history with a record eighth win at Wimbledon. Check out the odds on bet365.

If you’re planning to go to Wimbledon, you will struggle to get a seat in the Centre Court or Court Number One for this year’s Championship as you either have to know someone with a debenture seat that they’re willing to let you have for a day, or to have entered the public ballot between August and December last year. The public ballot is a simple process of sending your name and address in to win the chance of a randomly allocated ticket for any of the matches during the two week tournament. You might get nothing or you might get seats for the Wimbledon final – you still have to pay the face value on the tickets, but it’s one of the few ways to get amazing seats.

Don’t be put off going to the grounds without a ticket though. Wimbledon always reserves a number of tickets for sale on the day – 500 each for the Centre Court, Court Number One and Court Number Two and it’s one of the traditions of tournament to join The Queue to get seats that way. There are also several thousand tickets available each day for access to unreserved seating and standing room on Courts 3-19. It’s great to be amongst the courts and enjoy the refined garden party atmosphere, and you can move from court to court and watch the games on the main courts via big screens too.

Wimbledon is a great day out, and an experience to remember. You just have to hope you don’t pick to go on a day when rain stops play!

April 25, 2014 by Jeremy

Timing Your Trip To Japan

Japan exemplifies the marriage of modern lifestyle and old traditions. The merging of these two opposing facets of life is best seen from its urban cities. With so many sights to see and four different seasons, it makes you wonder when you should go there.

Technically, you can travel to Japan any time of the year but it really depends on what kinds of attractions you are after. If you want to enjoy natural sceneries for example, you should time your trip according to the season. Festivals are also held at certain times of the year, giving you more reason to plan your trip.

Summers are short in Japan. It starts in mid-June and ends in mid-July. Ironically, the rainy season starts at this time of the year. Summer might not be the best time to visit Japan and explore its top tourist attractions, but it’s not bad either. Just make sure you have light clothes to keep you cool and sunscreen to protect your skin.

Also, don’t forget to bring a jacket and umbrella just in case it rains. Believe it or not, even winter destinations are great to visit in the summer like Niesko which is known as a popular ski resort town. There are beautiful mountains that during summer time, make great places to hike and mountain bike. You can also get a much better deal on Niesko apartments during the summer time as well opposed to winter.

Fall starts in November and lasts through December. It is a great time to travel to Japan because the weather is cool and leaves are changing to warm tones. Chrysanthemum shows and seasonal festivals are common this time of the year. Bringing a warm jacket is recommended to keep you warm.

From December until March, it’s winter in Japan. It’s the perfect time to visit hot springs although they are open to tourists any time of the year. Other than that, there’s not much to see in Japan during this cold season. Upon the arrival of spring from March until April, you’d wish you were there. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom along with other plants and flowers. It’s the most ideal time for travel in terms of climate as well. Temperatures are neither too cool nor too warm and rainfall is rare.

April 23, 2014 by Jeremy

Winter Sailing in Sydney

For those who have just moved to the harbor city of Australia from colder climates in Europe or North America, you might believe that sailing on waters here is an activity pursued during the short months of summer, with some cruising possible during pleasant days during the spring or fall.

However, the weather in the vicinity of Australia’s largest metropolitan area remains pleasant even throughout the Southern Hemisphere winter, with daytime highs averaging 16 degrees Celsius during the coolest months. Additionally, inclement weather begins to dissipate in the Sydney area from July (analogous to January in the Northern Hemisphere) when the wind shifts to the west and rainfall drops measurably compared to the summer months.

Due to winter being such a good time for sailing in Australia, there is no need for dry boat storage. Your boat can stay on the water all year round.

All that remains is learning the basics of piloting your craft on the water, and knowing where to go to have a splendid afternoon enjoying winter sailing in Sydney. Let’s get started…

Learning To Sail In Sydney

Many schools exist in the Sydney area that will teach you the know how you need to pilot a boat with skill, and to do so with a mindset of safety. By starting as crew aboard an existing boat, you will start gaining valuable hands-on experience right from day 1. After getting comfortable on the water in a controlled setting, set out to get licensed through the Maritime Department of the government of New South Wales, who will test you on every facet of your boat smarts, so study hard!

Choice Locations To Sail In The Sydney Area

Located within a three hour sail from the city, Lake Macquarie is the largest permanent salt water lake in the Southern Hemisphere, and is connected to the sea by a canal. Being a protected reserve for birds and Pulbah island in the southern end of the lake being fringed by tempting beaches, Lake Macquarie is an excellent choice for an afternoon of fun.

If you’re looking for something a little closer, Port Hacking is situated only 16 kilometers south of the city limits, and is the place where Sydney’s suburbs begin to dissolve into the countryside. The sailing centerpiece is an estuary that is essentially a drowned river valley, and with little in the way of upstream agriculture or industry to muddy the waters, the visibility here is very good underneath. Another highlight is the cliffs that occasionally ring the shoreline along the way, making a worthwhile first trip outside the city center.

And of course, the most classic place to sail is within Sydney Harbor itself. While you are likely to get well acquainted with Sydney’s highlight attractions shortly within your arrival here, these sights take on a new appeal when viewed from the water. Be sure to take special care to follow the rules of the sea when in Sydney Harbor, as you will be sharing the water with countless other boats, some of whom will be much, much bigger than you (cruise ships, tankers, etc)!

Life On The Water Is Grand … Come Join The Party!

While the mechanics surrounding sailing can be intimidating at first, don’t let this cowardly fear stop you. Countless Sydneysiders less capable than you are having the times of their lives all year round on Sydney’s waterways … if they can do it, so can you!

April 21, 2014 by jfalbelda

Top Reasons to Visit Sydney Beyond The Obvious!

If you want to know more about the top reasons to visit Sydney, Australia then you’ve come to the right place! And not only will you be able to learn more about this bustling Australian metropolis, you’ll also discover ways on how to make your vacation experience here extra special. As the capital of New South Wales, Sydney is the most populous city in Australia, with a residential population of 4.6 million. It is the 42^nd most visited city in the world, with 7 million domestic visitors and 2.7 million foreign ones annually. Most tourist here seek out the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as well as its famous beaches like Bondi and Manly, but what people don’t know is that there are a plenty more attractions here worth exploring. Read on to learn about a few of them!