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Beach Holidays have been always the escape for many people from the north of Europe, the Uk and others to escape the winter blues and visit one of the many beach resorts in Europe , Asia and the Caribbean.
We talk about the biggest beach holiday destinations, such as Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Spain, Turkey and many more.
City breaks to different cities around Europe and America are very popular, with the help of the low cost airlines now you can jump to a city like prage or krakow for a weekend, or if you prefer you can visit Barcelona and other different cities in Spain.
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The cruises holidays are increasing its demand by the day, once a dream who only a few coud afford cruise holidays now atract more and more people.
The luxury,the facilities of the cruise ships and the fact that you could visit many places in the same holiday, make holiday cruises a fantastic option for those thinking of having a nice and relaxing holiday.
You can find
Once you enter in the Cross Farm Cottages in Ormskirk you know you are in a special place, you know that everything have been built with extremely care and thought.
The cottages have only been opened since summer 2010 and they are looked after very well by their fantastic owners Linda and Stan who will make you very welcome.
This 4 stars cottages have everything you need to have a brilliant time in with fantastic views and landscape, the cottages are totally accesible for the disable, and they offer free wifi connection, dvd player and tv player aswell a full kichen unit.
Another plus for the Cross Farm Cottage is its location just a short drive from Liverpool and Southport.
You can visit their website and contact them http://www.crossfarmholidaycottages.co.uk/
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VALHOP10
Malia
Malia is a popular tourist hotspot on the north coast of the island of Crete. Although the town has only around 3000 residents, it is one of Crete’s busiest holiday resorts and is buzzing with activity 24/7. Malia offers all the ingredients for a perfect sunshine holiday for young adults and is known for its fun nightlife. The main airport at Heraklion is about 35km west of Malia, making the resort very easy to reach.
The town itself has plenty of small shops, banks and hotels to suit all budgets, many with private swimming pools. Malia also has one of the best beaches on Crete which is perfect for sunbathing and enjoying watersports, jet skis, banana boat rides and pedaloes during the daylight hours. The beachfront area is well served with plenty of snack bars.
After dark there is a great choice of places to eat out around Malia, with everything from MacDonald’s and English-style pubs to local seafood restaurants which are reasonably priced and very friendly. Those looking for great nightlife will find Malia does not disappoint. The choice of bars is wide and many serve drinks until dawn and then start serving breakfast! Drinks, cocktails, karaoke and foam parties followed by skinny dipping in the sea is a typical night out in Malia.
The island of Crete is easy to explore and a cheaper option than a hire car (and infinitely more fun) can be a scooter or quad bikes. Malia is well located and there are several attractions nearby, with the water park being a popular choice. Malia is also well-known for its significant archaeological history. The Minoan town ruins which date back to around 69BC cover a sizeable area and are known as Aegean Sky, so called by the Emperor Pannos. The remains of the Palace of Malia were only discovered in 1915 by a Greek archaeologist named Hadzidakis and excavations continue, although the site is open for tourists to wander around. Away from the busier city suburbs, the area around Malia is very picturesque and beautiful.
Holidays in Crete
Crete is a large island in the eastern Mediterranean just to the south of the Greek mainland. It has plenty to offer from beautiful sandy beaches, blue seas and dramatic cliffs to quaint villages, a fascinating culture and plenty of history. The long sunny summers make Crete a great place for those looking for watersports, ancient fishing ports, fresh seafood and delicious local cuisine. Days can be spent basking in the sunshine, and nights can be enjoyed in local tavernas enjoying cheap local booze, fine cuisine and live entertainment. The pretty island has plenty of clifftop walks to hill villages, Roman ruins, beautiful Byzantine churches and bargains in pottery and leather goods. It is no wonder that Crete continues to be a popular holiday destination with families, singles, honeymooners and retirees.
Getting to Crete and Travelling Around
The main international airport in Crete is in the capital city of Heraklion and is served by many budget airlines. Ferry services link Crete with other islands and with the Greek mainland. The only way to travel between towns on the southwest coast is by boat, as there are no roads in the area. The island measures just 60km from north to south and is 260km wide. Hiring a car or motor scooter makes it easy to get around and explore some of the interesting sights. In contrast to its big busy towns, Crete also has picturesque hill villages which can be reached along donkey tracks, dry desert areas and quiet secluded coves. The interior is very mountainous with fertile plateaux and many rivers, gorges and caves.
Places to Visit on Crete
Historically, Crete was the centre of the Minoan civilization and some of the island’s most historic sights go back thousands of years. The restored Palace at Knossos is the largest Bronze Age site on Crete and the images which can still be seen on the walls depict early Cretan life. The Roman city of Gortyn includes the grand Praetorium, home of the Roman Governor, the Temple of Apollo, Roman baths, a triumphal arch, a theatre and unique inscriptions known as the Gortyn Code, written on slabs of stone, which were the laws of the city. Other interesting sights are the stunning natural Gorge of Samaria, the monastery of Prevelli, the Zakros Gorge with its Neolithic tombs and the old leper colony on Spinalonga Island.
Cretian Culture
Crete is proud to retain its own cultural identity. Many of the locals speak a dialect of Cretan Greek although English is spoken at all the main resorts and even in smaller villages. Local wine is the traditional drink and there are many indigenous dances performed to local folk music on the lyra, lute and mandolin.
Climate
The island of Crete enjoys a Mediterranean climate giving it warm, dry summers and chilly winters, when snow may be seen on the mountain peaks. The south coast is certainly warmer throughout the year as the presence of tender date palms can verify. Olive oil is widely produced here and not only influences the local cuisine but also makes a great souvenir to take home.
Sharm El-Sheikh
Those who visited Sharm El-Sheikh just thirty years ago will remember it as a quiet fishing town and would hardly believe its modern-day transformation. This luxury resort is now buzzing with tourists enjoying the beautiful beaches and endless sunshine, whilst partying in the local bars and discos until dawn. This resort lies on the tip of the Sinai Peninsula and is sandwiched on a coastal strip between the Red Sea and the impressive 7,497 feet-high Mount Sinai where the ancient Monastery of St Catherine is located.
Once a strategic port and naval base, environmental laws passed in the 1990s now strictly govern its commercial use.
Sharm El-Sheikh actually means “Beard of the Sheikh” in Arabic and if you look at its position on the point of the promontory, it is easy to see how it got its name. Now often abbreviated simply to “Sharm” it has attracted many five star hotels and international chains such as Starbucks, MacDonald’s and KFC to this very un-Muslim-like oasis. There are plenty of popular bars and nightclubs which add to the party-lifestyle of this leading Red Sea resort.
With its middle eastern influences, great prices and some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world, this colourful resort is a favourite with European tourists. The waters of the Red Sea are clear and calm, offering perfect conditions for scuba divers to explore the extensive coral reefs and colourful marine life. These warm waters are home to 250 types of coral and 1000 species of fish including shoals of barracudas and sharks. Other watersports such as windsurfing, kite surfing, parasailing and jet skiing can also be enjoyed here. Camel trekking, horseback riding and quad bike trips make the most of this stunning destination.
Sharm El-Sheikh is a popular holiday destination all year round. In the winter months temperatures average 21-27C (71-81F) and rarely drop below 15C (60F). In the heat of the summer, temperatures can exceed 38C (100F). Rainfall is almost unheard of in this desert region.
Holidays in Egypt
Egypt is on the continent of Africa, at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and close to Israel and Jordan. It has a hot, dry climate making it a great destination for sunshine vacations. The official language of this east-meets-west country is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in the main resorts. The currency is the Egyptian pound, but the accommodating traders will often take dollars, euros or sterling – at their own favourable exchange rates, of course!
There are several international airports at Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Burg Al-Arab, making it easy to get to your chosen destination. A tourist visa is required and can be obtained in advance from the Egyptian Embassy or at points of entry on arrival.
To some, a holiday in Egypt conjures up dusty camel trains, felucca sailboats on the Nile, royal tombs, magnificent temples, mummified bodies and ancient pyramid architecture. To others it depicts blazing sunshine, soft sandy beaches and diving in crystal-clear waters. Both images are perfectly correct; Egypt offers the best of both worlds!
Red Sea Resorts
The beaches along the Red Sea coast are the perfect place to enjoy a sunshine beach vacation, with luxury resorts and great diving opportunities. The palm-fringed beaches are set against the unfamiliar desert backdrop, with crimson coloured mountains contrasting with golden sands and brilliant blue waters. Explore beneath the surface of the sea and marvel at the brilliantly colourful gardens of corals and anemones, shoals of brilliant fish, turtles and dolphins. Resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada are also perfect for shopping and haggling in the bazaars, eating delicious local cuisine beneath the stars and partying till late.
Ancient Egyptian Civilizations
The flip-side of Egypt is the awe-inspiring wonders and rich treasures of Ancient Egypt; the mysteries of the pyramid builders, the wonders of beautifully carved obelisks, massive temples, falcon-headed gods and sacred tombs, still retaining their colourful painting and decorative hieroglyphs. The easiest ways to access these unparalleled wonders is from the River Nile, the lifeblood of the country. Most Egyptians today still live close to the fertile Nile Valley and use it as a source of water and for transport. It rises as the White Nile in the Great Lakes region of central Africa and flows through the Nubian Desert to Abu Simbel and the mighty Aswan Dam. It then meanders through Upper Egypt, past Edfu, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings at Karnak, down to the capital city of Cairo and ends in the Mediterranean at Alexandria. These magnificent cities are well worth a stop-over as part of your Egypt beach vacation.
What to Pack for Your Egypt Vacation
During the summer, Egypt can get incredibly hot, so pack plenty of cool, loose cotton clothes, a shady hat and plenty of sunscreen! The climate is ideal for winter vacations too, with temperatures ranging from 13-21C (55-70F). You may need a jacket as the desert temperatures drop quickly at night, but this is one vacation where you can leave your umbrella behind! As the region is predominantly Muslim, loose trousers and tops with longer sleeves are useful for visiting the sights and temples, to show respect to their more modest culture. Sandals are perfect and can be multipurpose for both sightseeing and for the beach.