Nation Tourism

As a way to generate more customers, many places of business are adding extras to attract more people and hotels are no exception.  Hotels in London are doing what they can to get people to stay with them and The Berkeley has done their part to increase their business.

This hotel now offers an extra amenity for those who stay with them, and the extra is an iPad.  For those who book their accommodations here, the not only get posh quarters, but an iPad as well during their visit.  Those who stay in certain suites will have the use of an iPad that will give them a variety of video, games, comics for their children and also the morning newspapers. You can read the morning paper that offers the Wall Street Journal and the Le Monde. 

Also on this device, you can get suggestions as to what places to see during your stay and it can even help you create an itinerary.  Of course, this is an expensive hotel to stay in so purchasing your own iPad would be cheaper then booking your stay here which in US dollars, would be equivalent to $2,800 a night.  It is a nice added benefit is you are staying at this hotel.

If you have ever been on family holidays to Devon then you’ll be aware of the number of activities that you can get up to in this marvellous county. The most obvious thing to do is visit the huge number of great beaches on both the north and south coastlines of the county.

Some beaches have long stretches of golden sand and gentle slopes into the sea, meaning that it can be quite a task walking down to the water during low tide.

Other beaches are steeper, possibly with rocks, which may not sound appealing until you realise that in the water itself it’s sand that’s underfoot, and these steeper beaches are often much better for tall, powerful waves. Surfing, body boarding, or just messing about in more vigorous waters are all more enjoyable at these beaches.

Yet more beaches may not be the best in terms of actual beach, but the attractions around them provide plenty of enjoyment.

Of course, inland in Devon there’s a lot to do as well, and the number of caravan parks make a caravan holiday a great choice. You can explore the moor land or woodland of Exmoor and Dartmoor, and maybe, if you’re really lucky, see some of the wild boars that live around each of them. There are plenty of activities at both of these places too; you can go pony trekking, for instance, or visit some of the small, picturesque villages buried deep in either location. The number of rocks and cliff faces, particularly on Dartmoor, mean that bouldering or rock climbing are both possibilities as well, and areas of Exmoor provide brilliant locations for cliffjumping.

Of course, these things are all there only if you want to take part in them. It’s just as easy to enjoy Devon, wherever inland or out by the sea, whilst simply sitting around and relaxing, or taking gentle walks. If this is something you’d be interested in, then the English Riviera around Torbay might be of interest to you, as it enjoys its own warm, sunny, sub-tropical microclimate. Torbay also has a number of beautiful gardens to visit, as well as easy access to Dartmoor, plenty of river walkways and the beaches along the south coast.

Devon is a truly varied county, so a trip here can suit any number of people, all wanting different things out of their holiday, and that’s why it’s such a good place for a family holiday.

Cornwall is a beautiful county, with loads of places to explore, gorgeous sights to see and wonderful things to do. It’s no wonder then that so many people go there year after year for holidays, to relax and unwind in Sennen Cove cottages. Of course, these elements that are so appealing to holiday makers are equally appealing to artists, writers, poets, directors, actors and all other manner of creative types. When you consider this, it’s no wonder that Cornwall has featured so many times in literature.

Daphne du Maurier lived in Cornwall, and many of her novels are set there, including the famous ‘Jamaica Inn’. Alfred Hitchcock made a film version of Jamaica Inn, and later went on to make films of another of her novels, ‘Rebecca’, and one of her short stories, ‘The Birds’. Both of these, when written, were set in Cornwall, though when Alfred Hitchcock directed his version of ‘The Birds’ the location was changed to Bodega Bay in California.

Arthur Conan Doyle also made use of Cornwall for the Sherlock Holmes novel ‘The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot’. When looking at this and Daphne du Maurier’s use of Cornwall to create atmospheres of isolation and terror, you might wonder why the county is so popular with holiday makers, but of course these authors are simply twisting the large, sparsely populated and dramatic landscapes so that they have a sinister spin. In reality, it’s hard to think that anything bad could happen in Cornwall on a bright, hot summer’s day on the beach.

Even the Harry Potter books have travelled there, with Shell Cottage, visited in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, being in Cornwall. It’s a far cry from the beautiful St Ives cottages that many people choose to stay in though.

In addition to all those books and film adaptations of said books, the second act of ‘Tristan und Isolde’ by Richard Wagner takes place in Cornwall, as does the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and ‘Ruddigore’.

Poetry has also flourished in Cornwall, presumably because of the sea air and dramatic landscapes. The late Poet Laureate John Betjeman loved Cornwall, and it featured in many of his works. He’s even buried there. Another poet, Laurence Binyon, is also remembered in Cornwall, as a stone plaque was raised in the place that he wrote his poem ‘For the Fallen’.

So, for some reason Cornwall has an effect on some people, and inspires them to write great things. For others, of course, it inspires them to build sandcastles and jump in the sea.

Kayaking anywhere in the country, as long as you’re on a suitable body of water of course, is great fun, but some places can offer a much better experience than others, dependent almost entirely on how many good rivers, lakes and coasts there are around. If you’re looking for somewhere really exceptional to take your kayaking holiday, then you could definitely do worse than renting one of the available cottages in Cornwall and using that as a base to visit the many rivers and lakes that the county possesses, not to mention the huge amount of coast that is suitable for kayaking around.

First off, river kayaking, such as on the River Camel, can provide you with a whole host of different experiences, depending on which stretch of river you decide to row on. Wide, gently flowing areas are available for those who want a smooth, easy and relaxed trip, whilst narrower and faster flowing places, especially up in the hills and moors, will provide for those who desire a little more action and adventure in their kayaking.

Lake kayaking, in general, will offer you calm waters to explore. This leaves you free to row around them at your leisure, possibly stuff a picnic in a waterproof bag and rowing either to a nice spot of shore or to an island, and enjoying your solitude whilst you look around your beautiful surroundings with a pork pie and mustard. Take some friends and make a day of it, racing each other across the water or rowing side by side and chatting.

Sea kayaking is a totally different beast to both river kayaking and lake kayaking, but can combine elements of the two. The unpredictable nature of the sea, along with having to take waves, currents, rocks, tides and plenty of other factors into account, can be a challenge for even the most experienced kayakers. It can be brilliant though, as rowing along the coast gives a completely different perspective to walking along it, and with a kayak you’re much more manoeuvrable than larger craft, meaning you can really go exploring. With Cornwall having an unrivalled amount of coast compared to other English counties, it’s the perfect place to go sea kayaking, and there are plenty of ways to stay in self catering Cornwall due to the area’s busy holiday industry.

Wherever you go and however you decide to experience your Cornwall kayaking holiday, keep in mind that safety is paramount.

There are plenty of things to do in Torbay without spending a penny, and you can do them all whilst staying in a Devon holiday park. In this post I present a list of the things you can do in the Torbay area which won’t cost you any money.

Walking – This is a popular activity amongst people from as young as twelve months to as old as people get. It’s a useful form of locomotion as feet can traverse many hazards that most wheels cannot, such as stairs. There are plenty of places where walking is welcome around Torbay, so you can get out and put one foot in front of the other over and over for the whole day!

Seeing – Seeing is considered an evolutionary advantage, and staying in a UK caravan park in Torbay will really make you see (excuse the pun!) why. By looking out across the glorious sea, the earliest animals to walk the land (lions) were able to comprehend their own insignificance, which allowed them to philosophically justify becoming ravenous killing machines. Now you too can experience that!

Breathing – Sea air is good for you, as is fresh countryside air. The seaside in Devon combines the two, creating an atmosphere that is not only good for your health, but in fact lowers your age. Torbay is the closest thing on Earth to the fountain of youth.

Age – If you duck inside for a moment, you’ll be free from the effects of the countryside sea air (or CSSA as it’s locally known) and can once again enjoy the feeling of time taking its toll and slowly causing your body to deteriorate. Sure, this happens anywhere, but Torbay is the only place where you can feel the difference between aging and not aging, making the experience far more pleasurable.

Rest – Like all mammals, we have to rest, and Torbay provides plenty of places to do this. Whether you sit down on the beach, on a bench, or just on a comfortable area of ground, you’ll find yourself slowly regenerating energy, almost as if your body ran on a battery and staying still caused the battery to recharge. If the sun is shining (in Torbay the sun always shines) then your batteries will recharge more quickly, just like Superman.

I hope these things have given you some insight into how to enjoy Torbay on a budget, and why so many people choose to return to the English Riviera for centuries.

Belfast is the largest city, as well as the capital of Northern Ireland. This city had plenty to see and do, and if you’re planning your next holiday, you should make a list so you see everything it has to offer. Besides the typical restaurants and attractions, there is much to enjoy. From architecture to festivals to art, Belfast is a thriving city with much to do. Belfast plays host to a film festival that attracts visitors from all over. There are art festivals and seasonal festivals all year around, as well as sporting events that can’t be missed.

The best part about this city is it is friendly to tourists as well as their wallets. Flights to Belfast are frequent and often cheap, being that the Belfast international airport has many airliners as well as budget airliners to help accommodate any budget. And airfare aside, there is also great places to stay that won’t break the bank. Budget hostels and hotels are spread across the city, which is great for anyone on any budget. Find a vacation package that suits you, whether it be romantic or family friendly, this city has plenty of experience catering to all types of tourists.