One Day in Syracuse, Sicily

During our trip to Sicily, we decided to go to Syracuse shortly before we left because it is a very well know city! Around 10 am, we arrived in this ancient Greek city.  We started our visit in Ortigia, an island located the southern of the city.

It is difficult to miss the Temple of Apollo, one of the most ancient Greek temples of Sicily. He reminds me a bit of my trip to Crete in 2009. These temples are very antics and it can be difficult to imagine how there were as they are very old and damaged. Next door, you can find a very colorful vegetable market with incredible Cannoli, these pastry desserts made with ricotta, typically from Sicily. Down to the edge of Ortigia, there are many platforms with stairs that lead to the sea as beaches.

Among the most beautiful things to see in Syracuse is Via Veneto, a narrow street with pretty and colorful houses and huge detailed portals. Between them, you can notice the panorama of the intense blue Mediterranean sea.

La Piazza del Duomo is located where the ancient Greek acropolis was. In the middle of the day the light and the sun are so strong that you can heart your eyes. Don’t forget your sunglasses! The inside architecture of the Cathedral is very different from the outside. It was built during the sixth century on the site of the Athena’s temple. Then the Arabs and the Normans took the city, doing new construction to finally in the eighteen century gave this beautiful Baroque façade!

To end our intense day, we bought the local arancini, a dumpling stuffed with rice. So delicious!

To resume, Otrigia is worth seeing for the ruins and beautiful and clear beaches. However I was a bit disappointed of Syracuse. I was expected a more impressive city with many highlighted monuments. On the contrary the locals don’t optimized the touristic potential of the city. The heat was also making difficult our visits. However as for everything, it is always better to make your own impressions and opinions. So I will recommend having a look if you are planning your next holidays in Sicily!

The great and unique Marseille!

Marseille would be the Italian Naples for its culture, architecture, habits, geography and lifestyle. In fact, it is located in the South of France, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the second largest city in France with more than 850,000 habitants and the largest commercial port. Its food and dishes, the sunny and particular “Provençal” accent, the colored fisher houses, but also the big Villas on the coast, the vegetables market, and the world famous alcohol called Pastis define Marseille.

Why should you visit Marseille?

First, it is a beautiful historical French city. The story of Marseille starts in 600 before J.C when Greeks settled up on the shores called nowadays the “Vieux Port” as it is still today a strategic location to trade commercial products. Then, it was the turn of the Roman to take Marseille under their rule, and years later the city was taken by the Emperor Charlemagne. It is only in 1480’s that Marseille became formerly part of the French territory. For this reason Marseille has a lot to offer in term of history, architecture and culture. It is a mix between France, Italy and Greece. However, during the Second World War Two, the Italians and Germans as well as the Allies years later bombed the city rebuilt in the 50’s and replaced by colorful little houses.

Secondly, the landscape and views you get from the many gorgeous little cities and beaches around are breathtaking. Go to Cassis and walk around by the narrow and quiet little streets, swim in one of the wild Calanques reachable only by foot. Marseille and the region have so much to offer! The colors are characterized by sepia and sandy tones, deep azure from the sea and sky and rich red tone from the earth.

The local dishes feature a lot of fresh fish due to the proximity with the sea like the “Bouillabaise”, a fish stew with crab and local seafood. Have a look at the fresh vegetables market and give to your senses sweet smells and colors to enjoy.

Finally, you can love it or hate it but there is no other place like Marseille. It has its own personality, its own taste and quality.

Alternative Things to do in Santa Eulalia

With a selection of wonderful beaches, you’d be wrong for thinking that Santa Eulalia in Ibiza is a holiday resort with little to do but work on your tan and dip your toes into the sea. However, there are numerous things to do in Santa Eulalia away from your deckchair including water sports, sightseeing and shopping. Here are a few of our top suggestions!

Water Sports:

There are some excellent ways to keep occupied on your holidays along the Santa Eulalia coastline. Try diving at one of the region’s diving schools, where you’ll be taught how to safely dive beneath the waves. This is a great opportunity to get up close to the fascinating marine life and underwater wrecks! Holidaying with children? If so, make sure you spend a day at the fabulous Aquamar water park, jam-packed with slides and rides for all the family to enjoy– your kids won’t want to leave!

Exploring the Island:

Away from Santa Eulalia, there are a number of particularly interesting natural and historical sites that make an excellent day trip. Head to the historic old sections of Ibiza Town, where you can wander the charming streets, see the ancient castle ruins and marvel at the 13^th century cathedral. Next, take a trip through the wonderful countryside on the Santa Eulalia Express, where you can sit back and enjoy the impressive views along the way. For a real taste of history, visit the delightful church at the top of the hills in Santa Eulalia, offering impressive views over the bay below- a sight not to be missed!

Restaurants and Shops:

Known as the gourmet capital of the island of Ibiza, Santa Eulalia has a variety of wonderful restaurants to try. There’s plenty of choice for your evening meal with everything from traditional Spanish tapas dishes to international dishes to choose from. Don’t forget to try some of the Spanish sangria with your dinner too!

When you want to get your holiday treats, Santa Eulalia has a great selection of shops to browse. For clothes, head to the marina and stroll amid the designer boutiques available, the perfect place to pick up some holiday souvenirs.

So there you have it, some of the best ways to have a family holiday in Santa Eulailia away from the nightclubs and beaches. These suggestions come from lowcostholidays.com travel team. For further holiday inspiration, visit the low cost holidays Facebook page.

Spontaneous City Breaks in Amsterdam

Do you ever get the feeling that life is just far too predictable? If the daily grind of 9-5 is starting to get you down it might be time for a bit of spontaneity in your life – and what could be more spontaneous than a trip to Amsterdam??

Can You Keep A Secret?

Amsterdam’s relaxed way of life means that whatever your interests you can take a couple of days and enjoy life whilst leaving the old you at home. Want to make it a super spontaneous trip? You should book a stay in a top secret hotel. Not only will this force you to explore and discover an area of Amsterdam you can’t prepare for, you’ll also get the room for much cheaper than usual. Don’t worry; these top secret hotels do give you a rough idea of where you’ll be staying so you know that it’ll be near great bars, restaurants, shops and cultural attractions.

World-Class Art

When it comes to cultural attractions, Amsterdam has plenty to boast about. The Rijksmuseum has finally opened after a €375 million, 10 year restoration, so you’re just in time to see the works of the Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer in the most magnificent of surroundings. Talking of Dutch masters, you absolutely must visit the famous Van Gogh museum – no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without it.

Try a Different Form of Transport

While you’re not soaking in some of the world’s best art you can make the most of your Amsterdam holiday by hiring a bike and weaving around the 17th century city canals like a local. While Dutch cuisine may not be as well-known as some of its European siblings you can rest assured that after a busy day cycling around this stunning city there are plenty of fine restaurants ready to get your taste buds tingling.

If cycling around the canals sounds a bit exhausting why not take a boat trip instead? There are all types of boat trips, from group tours to romantic private getaways and even parties. There are frequent tours so you can keep with the spontaneous theme and just turn up when you feel like meandering along the canals.

A Beautiful Day In The Park

If you fancy a break from the tourists head to Vondelpark to the south-west of the city. The 120 acre park was originally opened to members in 1864 (there was a fee for non-members). Thankfully everyone is free to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the park today, which has a number of beautiful ponds, a film museum, an open air theater and even a Pablo Picasso sculpture. If you’re lucky a stroll through this park might be accompanied by some music playing in the distance.

Hometime…

Of course, you can’t stay in Amsterdam forever, but hopefully the trip should reinvigorate you and open your eyes to some of the Dutch city’s crown jewels. At least you can console yourself in the knowledge that you’ll be flying from the best airport outside of Asia according to the World Airport Awards!

Aruba: Dutch splendor concealed in the Caribbean

Aruba is the tiny island located in the Caribbean. It shares its proximity to Venezuela though it officially is a part of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. This island is flat and is conspicuous for absence of rivers on it.

However, this place is blessed with warm waters, aquamarine seas and white sand beaches. It therefore is one of the most visited tourist attractions. The Reina Beatrix International Airport flies visitors take airline tickets  from various destinations to this holiday retreat.

Aruba is one isle that has abundant sunshine, cool breeze and a happy aura to make your vacation joyous and cheerful. Whether you are in the mood for a perfect family holiday, a romantic escapade or weekend adrenaline getaway, Aruba has it all for you.

When on the island don’t forget to visit the Natural Pool (Conchi). Concealed in natural rocks is a small puddle of water that is breathtaking to look at. Most visitors jump into this tiny pool, which extends into the ocean, for a dip to soak into the wonders of the beautiful Aruba.

California Lighthouse is another landmark that should be on ones must-visit list. You can visit the lighthouse, which does more than just emanating light to the ships in sea. It offers a spectacular view of the island’s western coastline. You will be amazed to glance at the sandy beaches, rocky coral shores and the scenic golf course Tierra del Sol from atop this trademark building.

Our Lady of Alto Visto Chapel is a place of worship for Catholics and all the tourists arriving in the island country. This small yet vibrant chapel stands on top of a hill with the mighty sea roaring in the background. You can travel to this place in a jeep or on a horse to discover its rich history and at the same time attend the mass Tuesdays 5 pm.

Ayo is another place that offers a marvelous sight of uniquely placed natural rock formations. You will be impressed to see a variety of stone boulders forming astonishing patters in the picturesque and serene environs of Ayo. No wonder Ayo was deemed to be a holy place by the island’s original residents.

You can’t stop admiring the incredible creations as Natural Bridges in this country. Originally 7 in number these bridges are Mother Earth’s indigenous designs that connect one part of the sea with the other. You can stand on one of these to relish the magnificent site of waves splashing water on your face and the sun going down in the backdrop. Freeze your memories on this spot that provides a picture perfect setting.

While the locals term their country as a Happy Island it is also world famous for being a food lover’s paradise. Being home to more than 90 nationalities gives it an edge to blend flavors in bringing out the best of gastronomic skills in the platter. You can savor the Caribbean aroma with a hint of Dutch, South American and European essence in every food joint. Try traditional delicacies like frogs’ legs and liver for the real taste of Aruba’s kitchen.

You can be assured of a fascinating, fun filled time on a vacation in Aruba.

Enjoying a Time of Bliss and Togetherness with Family at Rio de Janeiro

This Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro has everything that a tourist expects in a destination. It is the capital of Brazil, and is also known as the Marvelous city, for reasons obvious to each and one. The city has a rich cultural and historical significance and is well endowed with superb natural beauty and picturesque surroundings. These are some of the things that tourists look out for when they visit a new country or a city. Rio de Janeiro is referred to as Rio in short.

Check out the sun kissed beaches at Rio

Rio boasts of a long white coastline with picturesque scenery. In case you are a beach lover, then Rio is the place to chill out with your beloved. Honeymooners simply love the scintillating night life and the superb food spread that is served on the beaches. Despite the social issues hovering Rio, the tourism industry has in reality flourished here, thanks to the lovely and beautiful tourist spots.

Abundance at Rio

Rio is abundantly gifted with natural beauty, trees, rocks and stones. If you love green spots and greenery, this destination has abundant green locations. With good rainfall, the place remains green for the most part of the year and, this is why many tourists flock to Rio to catch a glimpse of this wondrous location.

 

Rio, the cultural capital

Tourists who come to visit this marvelous city will love the traditional song of this destination. This is Cidade Maravilhose that also happens to be Rio’s anthem. The city has also hosted the Football World cup the Brazilian Grand Prix.

 

 

Must see locations

You should not miss out on the annual carnival of Rio and ideally book your tickets during this period. This four day affair is absolutely lavish, and self indulgent and you will love every event that is hosted during this carnival. Advance bookings are undertaken by tour operators so as to avoid last minute rush. If you have delayed booking your tickets, then be ready to shell out substantial money. Identify the airline tickets and the tour operators who undertake bookings for this four-day four-night carnival. Check out for apartments and hotels close to the carnival place.

Rio Beaches – Enjoying the pristine sandy beaches

Beach lovers are sure to enjoy the pristine sandy beaches and long coastline that covers the well known beaches like Praia do Pepino, Leblon, Leme, Barra, Ipanema and Copacabana. Honeymooners will absolutely love the exuberant night life which has delicious food and wine flowing along with the traditional dances. There are performances related to classical arts and so on. Check out the Guanabara Bay that offers panoramic views of the beaches and enjoy your trip to Rio thoroughly.

How to Make the Most Out Of Your Trip

Many people say that when travelling abroad you are an easy target for crime, but that is really only true if you don’t know how to blend in. Like all countries, there is crime, however, you really need to be educated on the culture and understand how not to like a tourist. This article contains a number of helpful tips on blending into the native culture and not looking like a tourist. Hey: if you are going for a safari holiday you don’t have to be the one to be spotted!

In order to get the most out of your trip with a toddler, when choosing a hotel, you should make sure that you have either another room or a balcony. Since toddlers take frequent naps and also go to bed early, this will ensure that you will be able to occupy yourself while your little one sleeps. No one really wants to call it a night at eight in the evening when they are on vacation.

When booking a hotel stay, be sure to ask when the hotel was last built or renovated. A low-cost motel that’s brand new might be a better option than an older building attached to a good name. Stay away from lower-end and mid-range hotels that haven’t been renovated in more than five or six years.

If you know you have to fly, do yourself a favour and wear shoes requiring minimal effort to take off. Don’t pick that day to wear your eyelet wingtips with hard-to-tie laces. Women can wear clogs or slip-ons; men should choose a casual shoe style that can be easily slipped on and off with one hand.

When travelling on a road trip, make sure you bring a bag with you for trash. Even people who don’t normally eat in the car will during long road trips, especially if you don’t want to stop to eat and add more time to your trip. A trash bag can help you keep the mess and clutter to a minimum.

Traveling light can make the difference is a great vacation and a tortuous experience. Think about it. If you don’t take it with you can almost always buy it there. There are exceptions of course but even with those just a little bit of thought while packing can greatly reduce your load and make your trip much more enjoyable.

When traveling, the savvy tourist will always be on the lookout for local restaurants. A chain restaurant, even one belonging to a foreign chain the traveler does not know, will never be as colorful as an independently operated eatery. Not only are locally-owned restaurants more memorable, they are frequently cheaper than more generic options.

If you need to leave your vehicle at the airport for the duration of your travels then always pre-book airport parking well in advance. If you book parking on the day of your flight it will usually be much more expensive. If you don’t live far from the airport, consider whether taking a taxi would be cheaper than paying for parking.

As was stated in the beginning of the article, knowing how to blend in with the local culture is crucial to not being a victim of crime. Criminals prey on tourists, but if you apply the advice from this article the chances of you becoming a victim of crime are much less.

You May Like Also:

1. A Vacation in Sao Paulo
2. Ally Yourself with Amsterdam for Entertainment and Fun

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Sensational San Diego

As a holiday destination, San Diego needs no introduction; if Lego land and Sea world is popular with kids, the pristine beaches and excellent shopping is a magnet for adults. All kinds of holiday dreams are fulfilled at this Californian beach city without overdoing the touristy excitement.

Keep looking for offers such as JetBlue Flight deals, US Airways Flight deals or discounts in British Airways flight reservations to grab your cheap tickets to San Diego. Since it’s one of the busiest airports in the United States, getting cheap flights to San Diego is also quite easy. International Airline tickets like British Airways and Air Canada Flights operate flights to the Lindbergh Field Airport in San Diego; so if you want cheap tickets to San Diego, just book early and get the best fares.

Since the weather is usually mild and sunny throughout the year, you don’t have to worry about booking your flights to San Diego in off-seasons to get cheaper fares. Public transport buses are available for transfer from the airport to city; else you can opt for private shuttle services.

Sights

A short account cannot summarize all the sights in San Diego because there are so many places to visit. Before you start exploring the city, get a Go San Diego Card to get to know about all the key attractions here and get free access to many of these places including the San Diego Zoo, Sea world, Lego Land and Universal.

Balboa Park, with its museums, the San Diego zoo and the Reuben H Fleet Science center is a fascinating place to visit. It’s almost impossible to see all the attractions the park has to offer in one day; there are also many activities for you to do here like cycling, hiking and golf. Good food, art, culture and music; Balboa Park has it all.

In addition to the San Diego zoo, the Safari Park and Sea World showcase all kinds of animals in various habitats. Add to this Lego land and the beaches; can children want anything else to complete their holiday?

La Jolla with its scenic coves and beaches, Point Loma Lighthouse, Mission San Diego De Alcala and Coronado are other places to visit.

A holiday in San Diego is all about fun activities more than just sightseeing. The beaches here offer every kind of activity from just relaxing to surfing, sailing, whale watching and scuba diving. The Central Beach, Ocean Beach and Moonlight beach are among the most popular beaches for holidaying with family.

Downtown San Diego is a very happening place with lots of restaurants, shopping centers and clubs. The nightlife here is electrifying.

Food

So much active holidaying is sure to work up an appetite; San Diego has understood this need and the city has restaurants for every taste and every budget. While Mexican food is a favorite, all cuisines are available in San Diego’s restaurants and if that’s not enough, there’s ample street food to satisfy snack cravings.

So all you have to do when you book your flights to San Diego is to make sure you allow enough time to enjoy everything this destination has to offer.

A Vacation in Sao Paulo

Spell bound is what I was when I got the chance to visit Sao Paulo for a conference from my office. It is famous for its cultural places and museums. If you happen to be an art lover, then this is the place to be in. It has a sizable number of art galleries where artists from all over the world showcase their work. I had a conference with a few group of industries and thus got a chance to visit this gorgeous place.

The first thing to do before going on a trip is finding best airfares and cheap flights Sao Paulo that suit your budget. There are many flights to Sao Paulo, like Air Canada Flight deals, and if you do enough of research on the internet then you could find cheap tickets to Sao Paulo. I got in with our travel agent who managed to get us a darned favorable deal on cheap airfares or cheap airline reservations.

During my time off from the conference, I got the chance to explore this mesmerizing city. Since I am quite a foodie I tried out different ethnic foods here. There were so many different restaurants and street cafes to choose from. The best way to enjoy the experience of any city is by enjoying its local flavors. That is exactly what I did. I went all over the streets of Sao Paulo trying out the local foods and interacting with people. The people here are very kindhearted I must say. I visited several museums here. They were truly modern in approach and design. The architecture here is decidedly modern and colossal. It has a slight colonial touch to it. It was terrific experience learning about the history, tradition and culture of this place.

The night life here is simply astounding. There are chic lounges to visit. For the sophisticated ones there are exceptionally fine dine restaurants that have sensational food. I visited quite a few of the lounges here with my colleges after work. We all ate delicious food and heard pleasant music. I visited a few malls here as well for shopping. I was amazed with the variety of brands this place has. Being a girl, I managed to shop quite a bit for my family and me. One day we even went to see an art exhibition. It was a truly different experience since I had never been to one in my life. The work displayed by the artist was simply out of this world. Words are less to describe the beauty of his work. My trip to Sao Paulo was unusually short and I wished I had more time to discover the city. Sao Paulo is a city that does not fail to surprise you.