Nation Tourism

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.

Tenby is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Wales, which is hardly surprising when you consider how many attractions the town has as well as its hugely popular sandy beaches.

The harbour town occupies a picturesque spot along the beautiful Pembrokeshire coastline and lies within the National Park boundaries. The towns hill top position lead it to become a Welsh strong hold which saw a castle and town walls built, some of which still survives to this day making an attractive and charming feature in the town. 

The town has long been a popular holiday destination especially with the English, which has lead to the town being dubbed “Little England beyond Wales”. The town remains as popular today as it did then with more and more people from across the UK and the wider world discovering the delights of Tenby.

One of the biggest draws to the town is its award winning beaches. The town has four beaches in total, three of which were recognised with Blue Flag awards yet again in 2010. South Beach is the largest beach in the town with 2km of beautiful golden sand. The beach is backed by sand dunes and offers fantastic views of Caldey Island. Castle Beach is nestled between Castle Hill and the East Cliff. At low tide you can walk to St. Catherine’s island, but be careful the tide doesn’t leave you stranded. Harbour Bay beach is small yet well sheltered by the harbour bay. North Beach is another stretch of golden sand with fantastic rock pools. The beach is backed by the town it self and has wonderful views of Carmarthen Bay.

The town has so many other attractions including the nearby Caldey Island which is a cessary visit with regular sailing from Tenby harbour. The island is owned by Cistercian Monks and has an active monastery. Within the town itself and the surrounding area there are plenty of attractions to appeal to people of all ages and with plenty of Tenby holiday accommodation available it’ no wonder the town is one of Wales greatest holiday destinations.

In this age of technology, a main mode of communication for many includes the internet. Even while on holiday, many need the internet to connect with others, such as clients, friends and family members. It is a fast and convenient way to keep in touch and keep track of business. Being away from the home or office computer can be difficult when so much of your communication is doing via the internet. However, using mobile broadband while on holiday can assist you with getting business done abroad and still connecting with friends and family. You can use it while traveling and on the go, wherever mobile service is available.

Most Smartphones have the capability to download a social network app that allows you to connect instantly with your social networks via Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and more. You can check others’ statuses, update your own and send messages to friends and family. You can also access various web pages using your mobile broadband to do such activities as checking your email, watching streamed television and listening to the internet radio. If you prefer to communicate via instant messages, you can log into your Yahoo! Messenger, AIM or Skype accounts. Using your mobile broadband while on vacation allows you to enjoy your time away from home, yet gives you the flexibility to log into your accounts and communicate whenever possible or necessary.

We’ve heard that so many times: this guy or that woman have got the life! They spend their holidays at luxury tropical resorts, stay in luxury hotels when they’re in town and drive around in state of the art sports cars that always look like they’re fresh out of the dealership.

Asides from a well paid job, rich parents or a nice trust fund, what makes these people so good with living the high life? I’ve honestly investigated this and realized it’s a mix between being raised with it and simple boredom. There’s no way you’ll look like you belong in a five star hotel if you’re excited about the fact that you’re there, maybe taking pictures of each corner you find. There’s also no way someone who was born in a sports car has a need to make it known to everyone, being by showing off its speed at a red light or by playing really loud German disco music in the stereo.

So the end result is somewhat strange and perhaps even a little ironic. People who belong in the high life act like they hate it. Or at least like they see no perks in it. So if you’re ever in a luxury hotel, look bored.

No matter your destination, you will have more accommodation options to choose from than anything else. Everything from cheap hostels, to luxury hotels can be found anywhere you go. Hotels in Bedfordshire alone will provide you with more options than you’ll know what to do with. Here are some ideas to help you decide.

Besides the obvious accessibility and availability criteria, the second most popular search preferences involve facilities. Do you want a swimming pool in the hotel? Do you want a restaurant or bar in the lobby? Do you want access to a gym and spa? These will be other deciding factors to consider when narrowing down your options.

If you have access to a car, whether it be your own or via car hire, you will also have to choose where you prefer it is located. If you don’t have access to a car you are better off choosing a hotel in the city’s center. Close vicinity to public transportation will be essential for sight seeing. If you can have use of your own car, you can choose something on the beach, or in the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This will depend on your own personal preference.

Whether you’re into activities, relaxing, or sightseeing, Pembrokeshire can cater to your holiday needs. From comfortable accommodation, to exciting water sports, Wales has it all.

For the adventurous, Pembrokeshire offers a variety of activity options. The National Park provides fantastic landscape for long hikes or leisurely walks, and cycling hubs are in abundance, providing you with carefully planned routes for you to enjoy. With this city’s ideal coastal location, you can also enjoy a variety of water sports, including surfing, scuba diving, sailing and kayaking.

If your holiday is all about relaxing, choose any of the fifty beaches or harbors to soak up the sun. A boat trip to visit Skomer island is another popular choice by travelers. Visit St David’s and see the stunning Cathedral and all it’s charm.

As for your accommodation, Wales cottages are the way to go. Never mind those impersonal hotels, get the cozy environment of your own private home on your holiday. With the space, facilities, and location you want, you don’t have to sacrifice anything when it comes to your vacation accommodation. Cottages are also ideal for family holidays, or those traveling in a large group. Get that “home away from home” atmosphere you crave on your vacation.

So many people choose to drive to work every day, and those people wouldn’t think twice about taking their car on their holiday. However, this is sometimes not the best option. Naturally, a short drive to the beach doesn’t exactly warrant a trip to a rental company, but a long drive may have you think twice about it.

The obvious factor in choosing to rent a car instead of taking your own is the car’s size. If you drive a small city car and you want to take your family across the country, than you probably need a bigger vehicle. But even if your own car is big enough, there are still reasons that can have you at least consider car hire.

You need to look at the price you pay for a rental car and compare it to how much you’ll save on wear to your personal vehicle. A large trip may require a large checkup, new brake pads and new tires, not to mention the actual wear on the car that you’ll have to deal with eventually. The rental car, with all its flaws, is still a car you can abuse without feeling too guilty. So consider all your options before starting that road trip.

Calling a Mediterranean island as large as Majorca “forgotten” is a bold statement. But compared to the famous islands, like Crete or Santorini in Greece, Majorca isn’t exactly well known. It even pales in terms of public knowledge next to its neighbor, Ibiza, the dance music capital of Europe and, arguably, the World.

This probably explains why when a friend of mine told me he takes a small long weekend break in Majorca every year, people around him didn’t even know where the island was on a map. Also, when I told my parents to spend their 25 year wedding anniversary in Majorca, they, too, were pleasantly surprised when they researched the island and found it beautiful and wonderfully surprising.

But the fact that it isn’t known isn’t exactly something I regret, as it makes it easier to spend cheap holidays Majorca. It’s perfectly feasible to, for example, rent a car during your holiday to travel around the island, and it not breaking your bank. Taking a ferry to the neighboring islands of Ibiza or Minorca is also relatively cheap. The trick is to wait until you’re on the island to find the best deals, as they’re mostly available locally.

When it comes to getting there, the best advice I can give you is to shop around. A lot of low cost carriers fly to Majorca, some even using it as a hub because of its privileged position in the Mediterranean between Europe and Africa, so finding a cheap flight into the island is easy. But shopping around involves also trying to find a good overall deal, involving a flight into the island and a hotel. Getting a good deal on cheap all inclusive holidays to Majorca is worth it, in my opinion, for the peace of mind. Going back to my parents’ example, they took that option and ended up enjoying the island thoroughly and seriously liking the fact that they didn’t have to worry about carrying around enough money for meals or even to visit sites of interest, as it was all included in the overall fee. Comparing the prices, it actually came up a lot cheaper.

That said, going to Majorca for the nightlife and for wild parties will probably leave you thinking that you might as well have gone to Ibiza. On the other hand, if you want something more than partying and beach, Ibiza is thoroughly disappointing.