France is a large country and as such has contrasting regions, from the sunny holiday resorts and beaches of the south of France to the museums, art galleries and hustle and bustle of Paris, there’s something for everyone in France.

If you’re interested in cultural weekend breaks around Europe then you needn’t look any further than Paris, the capital of France. From London via the Eurostar you can be in Paris in just over two hours, making Paris a convenient destination as well as a cultural one. Paris has art galleries such as the Louvre, where you can see the famous Mona Lisa, and landmark attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, from which you can see the whole of Paris.

If it’s a large family holiday you need then the south of France has what you’re looking for, with many holiday villas available in areas such as the Côte d’Azur and Provence.

Villa holidays in France in the Côte d’Azur allow you to spend time on the glorious beaches of Cannes and Nice, enjoy the friendly nightlife where children are always welcome and even visit the millionaire’s playground of Monaco, which is just a short drive away.

As if that wasn’t enough, every area of France has its own story to tell in the wine it produces, with Provence producing the Côtes de Provence. France has such as great variety of holidays available, there is something to suit everyone.

We may all be sailing on choppy waters at the moment with the current recession squeezing our purse strings, but that’s no reason to abandon your summer holiday this year. You needn’t dash off to the Med either as there are some fantastic places to visit all on your doorstep - so what’s stopping you from a Staycation?

If you’re looking to holiday at home but you need to reign in those pennies then let one of the UK’s top Tour Operators help you decide where’s best to go. Enjoy a bargain breakaway in The Peak District where you can walk for miles and take in the stunning scenery. Combine the gentle rolling hills and honey-coloured stone villages of The Cotswolds with two fantastic steam railway journeys. Explore the home of the ‘Fab Four’ and do a spot of sightseeing whilst in Liverpool.

If you’re looking for a traditional UK summer holiday then head to the many beautiful British seaside resorts such as Llandudno, Blackpool, Scarborough, Torquay and Eastbourne. Spend weekends in family-friendly Skegness where the British holiday was born all those years ago in 1936 with Billy Butlin and his infamous holiday camps!

Holidaying in Europe is still achievable even if you are on a budget during this recession era. Whisk the whole family to Disneyland Paris for a weekend break that’ll keep everyone entertained. Explore Monet’s Garden and get some ideas of what plants to grow in your own or spend a few days in Bruges – a chocoholic’s paradise! Cruise the canals and cobbled streets of Amsterdam or spend a summer in the beautiful German Valleys. You won’t just save money on holidays and short breaks you’ll also be able to attend some of the hottest events around without breaking the bank. Ladies don your flares and platforms for a night in the West End with London theatre trips to Mamma Mia or Dirty Dancing for ‘the time of your life’. Hone in your gardening skills and jazz up your garden with tips from the experts at Hampton Court or Tatton Park Flower shows. Or, book your seat for the hugely popular Edinburgh Tattoo, a fabulous evening of military displays held in August using the stunning Edinburgh Castle as its backdrop.

Wherever you end up this summer, we wish you all the best. Have a great summer 2009!

Bon Voyage!

Source: Door2Tour.com

Think two weeks might not be long enough to get in a great caravan holiday across the UK? If so, read on and let us put your mind to rest.

May is officially the first month of the year where you are allowed to let your imagination of the upcoming summer holidays run free without guilt. Even if you keep your holidays till the end of summer, you can still count down the weeks from here. Before now, it all seemed a little too far away to get excited about, didn’t it? Sure we all daydream of golden beaches in Devon, the ruggedness of Scotland and the rolling hills of Wales year-round, but May is finally the month where giving your holiday notice to the office transforms your imagination into the planning stage!

Dust off and saddle up the family caravan, take two weeks off this summer and stay at home for the ‘staycation’ summer of 2009! For those fortunate enough to have two weeks off and a caravan to get you from A to B, here’s our recommended itinerary. This summer, let the best of Scotland, Wales and England’s West Coast remind you how great holidaying in THIS country can be!

Two weeks in a caravan is plenty of time - the key, like most things in life, is proper planning. If you need a little guidence to get the ball rolling, allow us to provide you with an example itinerary to go by…

From NORTH TO SOUTH (just reverse the order if heading the other direction!)

DAY 1
Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame Holiday Park - Dornoch Firth, Scotland

Ready to go?! This is where you you begin your 2 week southwards caravan journey to the south coast. Set in an idyllic location, Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame offers direct access to stunning Embo Beach and its white fine sand – you may even be lucky enough to spot dolphins and seals. Nice start!

DAY 2
Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park - Moray Firth, Scotland

At Nairn Lochloy you’re in a glorious spot nestled between a pretty marina, two championship golf courses and the sand dunes of East Nairn Beach

DAY 3
Tummel Valley Holiday Park - Near Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland

Tummel Valley is the perfect retreat to enjoy the great outdoors and stunning scenery. This scenic woodland park, set on the banks of the River Tummel in the heart of Tay Forest, is where you can really get away from it all.

DAY 4
A well needed day to yourself. Not far to go to your next scheduled stop, Sundrum Castle Holiday Park

DAY 5
Sundrum Castle Holiday Park - Ayrshire & Arran, Scotland

Head to Sundrum Castle for a fun filled holiday! This five star park has plenty on offer to keep everyone entertained including an indoor pool with flume and toddlers’ pool. Off park, Ayrshire has plenty to see and do with over 30 castles, sandy beaches and rolling countryside.

DAY 6
Free day to play. Glasgow or Edinburgh? You are minutes away from either.

DAY 7
Southerness Holiday Park - Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Situated just steps away from a beach that stretches for over two miles with views overlooking the Solway Firth and minutes away from a choice of great golf courses, you’ll never be short of things to do.

DAY 8
Another free day - but you need to move a little this one! This is the only day you’ll need to drive a fair amount, so hopefully you’re ready for a trip through beautiful Wales down to Swansea, the next stop.

DAY 9
Pendine Sands Holiday Park - South West Wales

At Pendine Sands, you’re a short walk from miles of glorious sandy beach and surrounded by stunning Welsh countryside, and otherwise relax from yesterday’s driving.

DAY 10
Ruda Holiday Park - Croyde Bay, North Devon

Ruda has it all; golden sands, world class surfing and excellent park facilities set in the charming hamlet of Croyde. Learn to surf with the school on park, explore the coastal path to Baggy Point for stunning views of Lundy Island or ‘go wild’ in the park’s indoor Tropical Adventure Pool.

DAY 11
Holywell Bay Holiday Park - Newquay, Cornwall

This park is ideal for beach lovers with the famous Gull Rocks of Holywell Bay beach just a short stroll from the park.

DAY 12
A lazy day on your own. Not so much travelling to do today, just take it easy. There are so many options here, go wherever the breeze takes you. Whatever you decide to do, get ready for the last two stops on your caravan adventure - Torquay and Hayling Island!

DAY 13
Torquay Holiday Park - The English Riviera

Torquay is set in a superb hillside location, surrounded by rolling Devon countryside with stunning views in every direction. This park is a great base for exploring the English Riviera, its stunning beaches and the nearby resorts of Paignton, Brixham and Torquay.

DAY 14
Hayling Island Holiday Park - Hampshire

Your caravan itenerary ends (or, begins!) at one of the treasures of the south coast, Hayling Island. Hayling Island’s stunning location is perfect for exploring the south coast and the award winning beaches nearby. This area is one of the UK’s top locations for sailing and watersports.

SOURCE: Parkdean Holidays

Local food is what I love about travel! Thanks to the warm weather in Southeast Asia, it offers a great selection of delicious tropical fruits you don’t normally find in other parts of the world. So apart from the usual bananas, oranges, grapes and watermelons, what else does the tropical cities in Southeast Asia has to offer? Let’s take a look at our carefully selected top 10 list

1. Guavas, although can be found in other parts of the world, but you don’t find them eaten the same way as they do in Southeast Asia. The green apple guava, commonly found in Thailand, are generally eaten before ripped, where the crispy fruit are dipped in salt, pepper or sugar for added flavour.
2. Rambutan, you can find the canned ones in many Asian supermarkets, but the fresh ones are simply delicious. Under the red velvety skin, it has a white fruit inside, which is generally eaten directly by the locals. Of course, with creative Asian cuisine, they can also find rambutan jam, sauces, ice cream, or added to salads for flavour.
3. Papaya in Thailand has two main varieties, one with red and the other, a yellow-orange fruit. Like many other tropical fruits, it can be eaten directly, or mixed into papaya milk drink. The green papayas are generally used in cooking, like for the famous Thai green papaya salad, or cooked into other local dishes.
4. Mangosteen, commonly known as the “queen of fruits”, has a dark purple skin. Inside, it’s a white, delicious fruit that can be eaten raw, added to drinks, made into mangosteen cake, or to be very creative, added into seafood curry.
5. Longan, don’t be fooled by its not so fancy look. Inside the thin crispy shell, it comes with a translucent white-pinkish fruit that are sweet and juicy with a unique musky scent. It is eaten raw or used as a traditional dessert toping, mixed with glutinous rice, coconut milk and ice.
6. Sapodilla or Ginseng fruit, another fruit you shouldn’t judge by its cover. Peel through the brownish fruit skin, you’ll find light reddish-brown juicy pulp that can be eaten directly, or cook with sugar or syrup to make jam and preserved fruit snacks.
7. Custard apples have what appear to be small bumps on the outside like a badly-stung head. It has a white and sweet fruit wrapping tiny black fruit pits, it can be quite a mission to eat it without accidently swallow one. It has a very interesting flavour with the blend of banana, strawberry and pineapples all mixed into one. It can be eaten raw once peeled, or mixed with coconut milk to make ice cream or candy.
8. Durian, the “King of fruits”, can be found in many places in Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia, they are loved by the locals. Under the rough spiny coat, it has a delicious creamy-like fruit, which has a really strong scent to it. You can smell a ripe durian before you sees one.
9. Star fruits or Carambola, just like the name, has a star shape when sliced. The fruit has a translucent orangey-yellowish fruit with a sweet and acidic taste to it. Star fruits are normally eaten by dipping in salt, sugar or even pepper to sweeten the flavour. Also, it can be commonly found as pickled snacks or made into star fruit drinks.
10. Last but not least, mangoes. Yes, you can find it in other places around the world, but in places like Thailand, you can find at least 10 different varieties to choose from. Like everywhere else, mangoes are eaten raw, or dried – most popular souvenirs from Thailand and Philippines, or make into delicious desserts with glutinous rice and coconut milk.

Now that’s our top 10 list, what’s yours?

Source: Faraway Holidays | Wikipedia

2009 is the year for a frugal lifestyle, so everyone says, and I’m sure you’ve read story after story about how the weak Pound is affecting value-for-money holidays in the Euro-zone. So, why not travel to Morocco?  But wait a minute that’s surely going to cost more, isn’t it…

Well, actually the Pound is still going strong against the Moroccan Dirham.  Flights from major UK airports take around 3.5 hours – the same time it can take to travel to Turkey or Greece.
Here are ten things you didn’t know about Morocco, which could inspire you to visit this exciting destination.

1. Moroccan Grand Canyon

The Dades Valley of Morocco offers the same peace and tranquility you will find in the Grand Canyon.  Stretched between the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains and Jbel Sarhro Mountains, Dades Valley offers a spectacular view of a snowy mountain on one side and a semi-desert on the other.

2. Goats can climb trees in Morocco

In south-west Morocco, you can frequently find goats climbing trees – an unusual photo opportunity! The goats eat the fruit from the argan tree and spit out the pits. The locals collect these pits to extract the bitter kernels inside, which are ground and pressed to make nutty argan oil used in cooking and cosmetics.

3. You Can Ski in Morocco

Morocco is probably the only place in the world where you can see snow, desert and sea in one trip.  Between January and February you can ski or snowboard in Oukaimeden up in the High Atlas Mountains. If you’re looking for an alternative ski holiday look no further than Morocco.

4. Visit UNESCO Heritage Sites

Morocco is an ideal destination for a cultural holiday.  Apart from the prevalent Islamic presence, you can find traces of diverse cultures, including Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine and many others.  Many of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Roman Ruins in Volubilis, one of the best preserved historic sites in Morocco.

5. Surfing All Year Round

With 3,000km of coastline, Morocco is an ideal surfing destination. Surfing classes for adults and children are available all year round.  But if you are a seasoned surfer and looking for a challenge then the best time for you is from late autumn to March.  There are many unexplored areas to surf south of Agadir and you may find yourself to be the only person out on the waves.

6. “The Gladiator” Was Shot in Morocco

Walk in the footsteps of Angelina, Colin Farrell, Sir Anthony Hopkins and many more Hollywood stars who have filmed in Morocco.  Re-live the infamous battle scenes from Russell Crowe’s Gladiator or imagine you’re Omar Sharif in Lawrence of Arabia.  You can even take a guided tour of the film studios at Ouarzazate.

7. A hint of Santorini, Greece - in Essaouira

It is easy to mistake Essaouira’s white and blue seafront for Santorini in Greece.  Once one of the most prosperous cities in Morocco, it is now home to craftsmen busy making marquetry, traditional Moroccan ornamental furniture from the roots of the thuya tree.  Only two hours’ drive from Marrakech, it’s a stunning place for a short break on the Atlantic coast.

8. Luxury in the Sahara Desert


What could be more romantic than watching the sun rise over the Sahara desert?  This doesn’t have to be a backpacker’s experience! You can travel in comfort from your hotel in Erfoud or Merzouga and spend the night in your own luxury tent in the desert with carpets, beds and hot showers.

9. Watch Shooting Stars


The night of August 12th to 13th is the culminating point of a meteor shower with rates of over one hundred meteors per hour. You can find many luxury hotels in the High Atlas Mountains or the Sahara desert where light pollution won’t spoil visibility. SaharaSky hotel in Zagora has its very own astronomical observatory!

10. Step Back in Time in The Blue City


Chefchaouen, a picturesque little town in the Rif Mountains in the north of Morocco, was closed off to the outside world until the 1920s and has remained unspoilt ever since.  Breathe in mountain air and stroll through the meandering streets of this charming and friendly town.

For more information on what to see and do in Morocco, visit The Best of Morocco, the specialist tour operator with over 30 years experience in luxury holidays to Morocco.