Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh remains one of the UK’s most beautiful and atmospheric cities. With an Old Town wedged between an imposing castle and the dormant volcano of Arthur’s Seat, and a magnificent Georgian New Town, it’s perfect for wandering.

The Royal Mile is the best starting point to get your bearings in the city. The steep cobbled street leads from the Queen’s Edinburgh residence of Holyrood Palace up to the Castle. You’ll find all the souvenir shops you need, for essential purchases of kilts, malt whisky and souvenir shortbread.

For those who have invested in car hire Edinburgh is also an ideal base for exploration further afield, along the beautiful East Lothian coast, or south into the Borders country with its charming market towns and romantic castles.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre

Cultural highlights

Edinburgh really comes alive in August, when it stages the world’s largest arts festival. International theatre and dance highlights are supplemented by an endless variety of comedy, theatre and children’s shows on the Fringe. Throughout the year, the Traverse, Lyceum and Festival Theatre are popular venues for drama and touring musicals, while the Playhouse features major West End hits.

Edinburgh New Years

Nightlife

Edinburgh’s old pubs remain a key aspect of the city’s appeal. The Cafe Royal is an elegant establishment just off Princes Street, full of writers, politicians and local office workers. George Street’s stylish clubs are at the hub of the city’s after-hours scene, favoured in the past by Prince William when he studied in Scotland.

Restaurants.

The Scottish restaurant scene has improved enormously in recent years, with the capital in the forefront of a movement using the finest local produce in innovative ways. Tom Kitchin has earned an international reputation and a Michelin star at his French-influenced Kitchin restaurant in Leith. You’ll need to book well in advance to secure a reservation.

photo credit: Spiterman

Knowing about transportation in Rome is important as the sights of Rome are all over the city. Travelers to Rome need to use the bus and metro to find and see the attractions.

Transport From Rome’s Airport to Rome

Rome’s Airport, the Leonardo da Vinci Airport, or locally called Fiumicino is the most popular entry point into Rome with hundreds of flights to Rome arriving each day from cities across Europe and worldwide., is approximately 30 minutes by train to the Central Station in Rome. The train has frequent service between 6:30 AM and close to 11 PM. To get to Central Rome, find the sign to Stazioine FS/Railway Station. Purchase the ticket “Per Termini”, costing 11 Euros, from the machine and validate the ticket by using the validation machine before boarding the train. The train returning to the airport is on track 24 of the Termini. Travelers can buy tickets at the Alitalia office or from machines.

Public Transportation

Public transportation by the metro, bus, and trams is inexpensive so most travelers do not require the weekly or monthly pass for a short vacation. The metro bus fare is one Euro and is good for traveling for 75 minutes around Rome. Passengers can change buses as many times as desired during that time. Travelers can also use the same ticket for one subway trip.

Archeobus

The archeobus tour of Rome is a bus that travels around Rome and stops at the main archaeological locations. The fare is affordable at 7.75 Euros to stay on the bus all day. The guide is bi-lingual, speaking both English and Italian, explaining each site. Passengers are allowed to get on and off at any site.

The pamphlet lists over 50 spots but does not list all the stops. Travelers can ride the entire day on one voucher from ten in the morning until six in the evening. The admission fee to the sites is not included in the ticker. It is recommended that passengers begin the ride at Piazza Venezia where booths that sell tickets are set up.

Travel iron

Traveling means you need to downgrade your typical accessories and find suitable replacements that take up less space, can work with multiple voltages, and are simple to use form any hostel, camper or hotel room. Compiling a list of all the necessary travel accessories is different for each person, their intended destinations and their packing space and availability, but these are a few of the most important items when traveling:

Travel Irons: The benefit to this accessory is obvious. In a few minutes, you can transform your suitcase or backpack filled with wrinkled clothes into a normal wardrobe, ready to be worn to any event or travel dinner. They generally work with steam, and many operate on batteries so you won’t need to worry about outlets or voltages. Find a handheld one that doesn’t take up much space and wont weigh down your bag during travel.

International Cell Phone: Having a cell phone is vital in case you get lost in a foreign country, but using your own phone on a regular basis can be very expensive thanks to roaming and data fees. By bringing along a travel cell phone, you can have a set price for a SIM card that will work anywhere on earth. Or, find a way to put in a new SIM card in your existing phone, which will help you to avoid roaming charges on your current plan.

Camera and Charger: While most people wouldn’t dream of forgetting their digital camera on a vacation, many still forget their chargers or extra batteries which are required to keep the camera in use throughout the holiday. Make sure your camera never runs out of power by bringing along a travel charger to keep it working.

Don’t forget these three important travel accessories on your next holiday, whether it is further abroad or just in the next town over.

Daily deal sites are a great way to get the best deals on all kinds of products and entertainment, but did you know that they’re also valuable for finding deals on the holiday you’re planning? There are several ways to use daily deal sites to help you find the cheapest deals on transport, accommodation, entertainment, and more on your holiday.

There are a number of daily deals sites that cater specifically to travel deals. Two of the biggest sites in this category are Travelzoo and Shermans Travel. Both offer cheap airfare and hotel stays, and have lists of the latest and most popular deals. If you are flexible on points such as arrival and departure dates, you can find great deals on transportation. Some of the best holiday discounts can be found at the last-minute, with plenty of options if you’re open to different destinations!

Another strategy that can be used for finding deals for your holiday is changing the city on your favorite daily deals sites to that of your destination. You can do this weeks or months beforehand to ensure more savings opportunities. Also, by researching the average expenses of local transportation, accommodation, and attractions at your holiday destination, you can better identify the best deals when the latest ones are sent to you. As with the travel deal sites, some of the best discounts are last-minute, so keep checking until it’s time to leave to get the greatest savings.

Since daily deal sites offer discounts on so many different items and experiences, you can get the biggest savings on activities at your destination by remaining open to the various opportunities you find during the planning of you trip. For example, there may be a deal on an activity, such as a ballroom dance, that you hadn’t previously planned for your holiday, but that you might enjoy and don’t usually experience in your home city. By choosing this activity over another, you could save big and end up being able to take yet another trip in the future full of more new experiences that, thanks to daily deal sites, you can save even more money on!

Post contributed by dealzippy.co.uk

When you decide to take a holiday in Florida, you will want to use Florida car hire to ensure that you are able to see all the best theme parks and get around easily. Walt Disney World is perhaps the most famous of the theme parks. You can easily save by staying at one of the hotels found at the theme park. In addition to favourite Disney attractions such as Epcot and Animal Kingdom, a Hollywood Studios park is found within the Disney amusement park. It contains such thrilling attractions as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Another favorite theme park is Universal Studios. Like Walt Disney World, it is also in the Orlando area, and guests often benefit from staying at a hotel in the park. The park features Islands of Adventure areas with unique rides and attractions. Perhaps the most famous of these areas is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter park. If you decide to see this park of the Universal Studios theme park, be sure to arrive early. This attraction has been immensely popular. A good time to visit Universal Studios is on a working day when most children would be in school. The park is generally less crowded during the winter.

Sea World in Orlando  has long been associated with shows that feature orcas, sea lions and dolphins. It contains several rides, as well as a water park. The park is also home to Discovery Cove, a unique park that allows guests to swim with dolphins. Another wildlife-themed park, Busch Gardens Tampa, is only an hour away from Orlando. It features wild animals in a safari-like setting, along with rides. A water park is adjacent to Busch Gardens that provides quite a lot of amusement on warm days.

One park that has gained a lot of attention since its opening is the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. It features a number of interesting religious attractions inspired by people and events in the Bible. It is especially ideal for families with younger children who may prefer an alternative to parks with a lot of fast rides. Legoland in Winter Haven contains popular attractions based on Lego building blocks. It’s especially intended for kids under 12. For a less-crowded amusement park experience, visit Boomers, an entertainment center in Dania. This park features a wooden roller coaster, which is increasingly rare in modern theme parks.

This was a guest post by Andy for Alamo car hire USA

Europe is endowed with several wonderful places. There are a variety of places to be visited from the rolling greens of Scotland to the eye-catching prehistoric ruins of Greece. The major cities in this very diverse continent that deserve a visit include London, Paris, Venice, Rome, Madrid and Frankfurt. The following is a guide of the best places to include in your travel itinerary.

Big Ben Tower, London

When you next visit Europe, the Big Ben tower is a must visit site since it is one of the most famous landmarks. It is the world’s largest turret clock tower. There is a bell that chimes every 15 minutes. Note that climbing the clock tower is limited to natives of the United Kingdom. However, it is a spectacular site, especially at night when it is all lit up.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

This is a Paris, France icon built back in 1889. It is one of the most famous and identifiable buildings in the world. Standing at 984 feet high, it is among the tallest buildings on the planet. The Eiffel Tower was built as a tribute to the end of the French Revolution. When on top of the tower you will enjoy a great view of Paris.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

The construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy commenced way back in 1174. It was meant to be a clock tower for the neighboring cathedral. It has more than 200 stairs and it is known for sinking gradually making it lean to one side.

Buckingham Palace, London

Buckingham Palace which is home for the Queen is another landmark in the history of Europe. It has been the home for British royalty since 1837. It is probably London’s most famous building. If a person is there at 11.30 am, it is possible to see the famous “Changing of the Guards”. Visiting in the summer will give you a better view of the State Rooms, since the Queen will be in Scotland.

Notre Dame, Paris

This is another land mark in Europe. It is a good example of French gothic architecture. Entering the Notre Dame Cathedral is free, but climbing the towers may require a small fee. Notre Dame is filled with a rich history and art lovers will enjoy the many beautiful statues, columns and windows.

Many interesting, cultural and historical monuments exist throughout Europe. Pick any street in Barcelona, Spain and you’ll be amazed to see homes built a thousand years ago mixed within a modern infrastructure. Europe is a unique travel destination indeed.

While many European countries have more than one spectacular ski resort, to explore them all would be an endless journey. Here are six top ski resorts or resort towns for fabulous skiing in Europe. Each of these resort areas is in a different European country.

Two Ski Resorts Perfect for Beginners

These two ski areas do not necessarily distinguish themselves as exclusively for beginning skiers, but are fabulous because they are convenient, accessible and have all the ski area facilities. These two are a good introduction into what skiers can expect for their future ski holiday, like testing the waters. Of course, they include slopes for beginners as well all other levels of skiers.

Austria – Obergurgl

Located in the Austrian Alps, in the state of Tyrol, the town of Obergurgl and the ski resort of Obergurgl Hochgurgl has several mountain peaks over 3000 metres. The resort in the Otzal Valley has twenty-three lift facilities, and boarders and skiers have a wide range of slope options from which to choose. Skiing is available late into springtime, and, then, as with most of these resorts, hiking and mountain biking is available during the summer and early fall.
Italy – Pocol

In the centre of the Dolomites, the Southern Alps of Italy lies the town of Cortina d’Aampezzo, host of the 1956 Winter Olympics. The scenic town and surrounding slopes is popular with skiers and celebrities from all over the world. The Pocol Ski Resort has ski trails for all levels of ability. These mountains contain limestone and dolomite rock, and views are spectacular.

Four Ski Resorts Perfect for All Skiers

France – Brides-les-Baines

A village of the Winter Games of 1992, this resort is easily accessible direct from the UK via Eurostar. A perfect place to enjoy all of the best of the French Alps, Brides-les-Baines is a favourite ski area and a fabulous spa. Many visitors come for the skiing, but many more come because of the variety of skiing, spa and shopping choices.

Switzerland – Engleberg

The clean, pristine Alps of Switzerland encircle Engleberg, a town of just over three thousand people. The town itself is a ski resort town. Twenty-five cable transport facilities, eighty-two kilometres of downhill runs and almost forty cross-country trail routes make this a vast ski and ski boarding area to explore. Fine restaurants, and three and four-star hotels make this a grand winter retreat.

Germany – Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Offering steep slopes down grades of over two thousand metres high, this ski resort in the German Alps offers amazing, extreme ski and boarding opportunities. The ski lift can transport fifty thousand persons per hour. Vast, with almost three hundred kilometres of trails of various skill levels, the resort offers grand views and glacier skiing for the adventurous.

Andorro – Vallnord

The beautiful country of Andorro in the Pyrenees Mountains has the fabulous Vallnord resort that connects different sectors with a cable car. Ski schools, restaurants and runs of varying difficulty are scattered across sectors. Vallnord is a great spot for extreme boarding and skiing. Affordably stay, ski, eat, and, then, shop duty-free.

6 Marvellous Mountain Ski Resorts

While each of these ski resorts offers a special, distinctive skiing in Europe experience of terrain, snow and local culture, all of them are perfect for ski holidays. Of course, all have fabulous accommodations, cuisine and winter fun. Winter sports out in the pure, crisp mountain air are a great way to unwind and revitalize. Winter-weary individuals and entire families can shake off the winter doldrums and embrace life out on the slopes.