The perfect place for a long weekend or relaxing sightseeing holiday, gorgeous Budapest is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Steeped in history and culture, Budapest is the largest city in Hungary, as well as being its capital.

Known as the Queen of the Danube, Budapest boasts a number of World Heritage Sites including the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrássy Avenue with its Heroes Square and the Millennium Underground Railway.

Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube in 1873 when Buda (west) and Obuda (old Buda) combined with Pest on the east bank. The first connection between Pest and Buda was made by the construction of the magnificent suspension bridge, the Chain Bridge or Széchenyi lánchíd. It is a popular tourist attraction today, as are the many other lovely bridges spanning the Danube. A Danube River cruise is highly recommended when you visit the city.

Also known by some as the City of the Spas, the heart of the city of Budapest is richly endowed with natural springs which are renowned for their various medicinal properties. Some 118 springs supply the city’s spas and baths with water ranging in temperature from 70 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit (21-78°C).The Gellert Baths are some of the most beautiful baths to be found in Budapest

Budapest is also referred to as the city of the caves because approximately 200 caves of varying sizes have been discovered under the capital. These caves were formed by the same springs that today supply the thermal baths. The majority were found at the beginning of the 20th century, when buildings were being constructed. There are currently three caves open to the general public.

Budapest’s Roman history is reflected in the fascinating ruins and the Aquincum Museum. These two-thousand-year old ruins are the remains of the Roman town of Aquincum, and include the impressive ruin of the amphitheatre. The museum includes murals, mosaic floors, a reconstructed water organ and a diorama showing what and how the Roman nobility ate.

You can visit the Budapest Statue Park, resting place for the symbolic statues of fallen Communist leaders. After the fall of communism in 1989 all the communist statues around Budapest were moved to the outskirts of Budapest and placed together in this unique display.

No trip to Budapest is complete without taking the famous funicular ride to medieval Castle Hill. The spectacular cable car climbs up Castle Hill from Chain Bridge’s Buda side to Fisherman’s Bastion (Halászbástya). As the cable car rises up the hill you get a beautiful view of Pest across the river.

The castle is well worth a visit and houses the Hungarian National Art Gallery with its unparalleled 360-degree views of the city.

The local cuisine and wine is good. The most famous restaurant is the Gundel which has an opulent dining room adorned with 19th-century paintings. The restaurant offers preparing traditional dishes in an innovative fashion. Gundel is a place to be seen, and most prominent visitors make a point of having at least one meal in Gundel’s when in Budapest.

The Pest part of the city offers a vibrant nightlife, with many clubs, casinos, bars, music clubs and restaurants of all kinds.

With its friendly local residents Budapest offers a welcoming ambiance and a host of sights, culture, arts and entertainment for visitors to enjoy.

Whether you want to party, experience Spanish culture, eat good food, drink fine wines, or enjoy live entertainment, you’ll get it in Tenerife. As everywhere else in Spain, the island comes to life when the sun sets. Bars and restaurants in Tenerife titillate and entertain, and clubs stay open until the very early hours – especially in Playa de las Americas – the busiest resort on the island, with the world-famous Veronica Strip. There are so many bars and restaurants in this area, that you are bound to find just what you ae seeking.

Beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery, a variety of watersports, and a warm welcome awaits anyone who visits the island. Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, and is commonly considered the most popular. Most visitors go to the South of the Island, seeking the hot dry weather that is standard there. All age groups are catered for here – which is why it remains one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world today. For the golfing enthusiast, Tenerife has 9 courses – what better way to wind down after a late night of tapas, wine and beer, and the varied entertainment on offer.

It boasts one of the most varied landscapes of all the Canary Islands… and you can lie on a sun-drenched beach in the South, whilst gazing over to snow-capped mountains behind you. Add to that, the lush green forests, and staggering beauty of the cliffs, and your camera will rarely be in its holder.

How to find Heaven on Earth for Honeymooners – The Four Most Popular Honeymoon Spots

Nothing brings a couple closer together than sharing a wonderful honeymoon after the wedding. If a couple is lucky enough, one or both of their parents may give them the honeymoon as a wedding gift. Most couples, however, have to plan their honeymoons themselves and they should start on this process early. A honeymoon is usually a one or two week vacation and can be the perfect beginning for a married life together. Most travel agencies have specialized packages just made for the honeymoon couple, but with all of the information on the internet today, the couple can also plan their own honeymoon very easily. There are so many incredible locales for the perfect honeymoon, it will be hard to choose one. If the couple has decided that they would rather spend their honeymoon in the United States, here are the most popular ones that newlyweds choose:

1. The beautiful state of Hawaii has traditionally ranked as the most desired destination for honeymooners. It is beautiful and romantic with an incredible array of wonderful hotels, top notch restaurants and exotic beaches. The beaches in Hawaii are the real drawer, and it offers small, uncrowded beaches where a couple can stroll hand in hand and sniff the bougainvillea, or they can sail, snorkel and surf on pristine waters surrounded by spectacular nature, if they are the sporty type. Waikiki and Maui are the most popular islands, but there are many more that a couple can visit; each of them offers the unique culture and beauty of Hawaii as well as the incredible choice of hotels and resorts. Try the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii, the Hyatt Regency or the Halekulani for a honeymoon to remember.

2. Niagara Falls has been a traditional honeymoon choice for over 100 years, which places it in the number two ranking for honeymoons. It is an affordable attraction and the beautiful wonder of the falls makes it ideal for a romantic backdrop for a romantic vacation.

The “Maid of the Mist” is the famous boat that takes tourists and honeymooners around the falls and there is an interesting IMAX film that outlines the history of the Falls and their popularity as a vacation spot. Because of the popularity of the Falls, a lot of entertainment features have popped up in the area, such as The House of Frankenstein, The Haunted House, the Mystery Maze and the Guinness World of Records Museum. Many honeymooners combine a visit to Niagara Falls with a trip to New York City to see the sites and catch a Broadway show.

3. Even though Florida placed third in the honeymoon category doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot to offer honeymooners. It is almost always warm, with a lot of activity both on and off the beaches. The west and east coasts have their different personalities, and, with Disney World in the middle, there is no end to the entertainment. From Orlando to Key West, a couple could find many spots to stay and enjoy the sun and excitement. Palm Beach, Daytona, Miami and the many beautiful areas on the west coast offer sightseeing and water sports, or just plain relaxation. Florida offers a wide range of accommodations from luxurious to budget, so there is no reason for a couple short of cash to skip a honeymoon.

4. Las Vegas has a special appeal, but if a honeymoon couple loves glamour, excitement and gambling, it is the place to go. As the fourth most popular honeymoon spot, it is clearly popular, even though it can be a bit expensive. Las Vegas is always open for any kind of activity. Whenever you arrive in LV, you can start partying, or go to sleep. Days are nights and nights are days. And don’t forget that even your honeymoon can be compressed into a day, and you can get married at one of the many wedding chapels and then spend your honeymoon in Las Vegas!

The other contenders in the “most popular honeymoon spots” are: the wine valley of California, Pennsylvania’s lovely Pocono Mountains, the New Orleans region of Louisiana, and the sunny states of the Gulf Coast, such as Alabama and Texas. There are so many beautiful spots for a honeymoon full of romance and beauty; every couple should have a chance to spend some time alone in a romantic hideaway (or an exciting rendezvous, if that is what you prefer). There are so many vacation packages available, or you can just wing it and have a great honeymoon on your on terms, without having the leave the United States.

Anyone travelling to Adelaide or touring South Australia should definitely consider a day trip to the magnificent Barossa Valley, just a short but scenic hour’s drive from Adelaide through the beautiful Adelaide Hills. The Barossa Valley is home to the world-famous wines such as the Barossa Shiraz and Eden Valley Riesling, in addition to a veritable cornucopia of unique regional produce, and of course many acclaimed restaurants.

The Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s most significant wine regions. The Barossa’s vineyards are tended by around 500 grape growing families, many sixth-generation. There are may small boutique wineries where exquisite wines are sold out within weeks of their launch, along with larger enterprises associated with household names such as Peter Lehmann, Henschke, Seppelt, Yaldara and Yalumba.

The Barossa Valley’s thriving community retains strong links to its rich European heritage, now combined with the down-to-earth Australian spirit to create a rich and diverse lifestyle in a relaxed, rural setting close to Adelaide. European farmers (German in particular) and English migrants settled the Barossa Valley from the 1850s, and their rich cultural legacy is evident today in superb Barossa specialty foods and historic architecture. Historic churches, stone buildings and cottages abound, while walking trails, reserves and forests offer easily access to breathtaking landscapes and scenery.

Located only 70 kilometres North East of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley is just over hour’s drive from the South Australian capital. From Adelaide take Main North Road (A20) to Sturt Highway and enter via Gawler and the Barossa Valley Way. Or, from Adelaide take Lower North East Road (A10) out of Adelaide and travel through Chain of Ponds in the Adelaide Hills to Williamstown in the southern Barossa. Adelaide is well serviced by domestic and international flights, and car hire is readily available at the airport. Self-drive tours to the Barossa Valley are popular. Road conditions are generally very good and distances between the region’s towns are small.

Spring brings a refreshing vitality to the Barossa Valley, days are sunny with a crispness in the air and wildflowers abound. Summer brings an abundance of sunshine and warm days. The average temperature around 29 degrees celcius, but temperatures as high as 35 degrees are common. Autumn brings mild days, chilly evenings, and autumn leaves on the grape vines which are a sight to behold. Winter brings chilly days and cold nights when warm Barossa hospitality can be enjoyed around a cosy log fire.

The Barossa Valley was named in 1837 by South Australia’s first Surveyor general, Colonel William Light, after Barrosa in Spain. It was first settled in 1842 by English and German settlers, the Germans having fled religious persecution in their homeland. Before long the Barossa developed its own unique culture and life style which has continued until today. Early gentlemen winemakers established the first Barossa Valley vineyards, but wealthier families with greater financial resources soon took over and developed the wine making industry we see today. Among the first was the Seppelt Family. Joseph Seppelt turned to wine making on a large scale when earlier attempts at tobacco growing failed. Other successful attempts were made by the Jacobs, Salters, Gramps, Penfolds and Tolleys, who soon dominated the industry while smaller growers supplied grapes grown on family holdings. In this way, the Barossa Valley’s agricultural production slowly changed from wheat growing to grape growing.

For a comfortable day tour in a picturesque region of Australia steeped in history, fine wines, good food and great restaurants, South Australia’s Barossa Valley is hard to beat!

Most of us a familiar with the statistics showing that holiday time has one of the highest suicide and depression rates of the whole year. Even if you are not feeling overtly depressed or even suicidal it is quite possible that you may be one the millions of people who have feelings of loneliness and sadness this time of year. So what is it about the holidays that causes us to feel so sad?

The problem is not with the holidays themselves but with the many stories and beliefs we hold about them. It’s important for us to understand that we never have an emotional reaction unless we have perceived something and judged it in some way – good or bad. Once we see the truth or “what is” about the holidays we no longer will be affected by any story that our minds put forth.

Some things we may believe are:

You should never be alone this time of year, everyone should be with someone.

You should connect with your family this time of year.

You should not go on a vacation holiday time without your family.

If you are not with people at the holidays you are not loved. If I were in a relationship I would not be alone now.

I have no friends where I live now and the holidays are making it worse.

I have nothing to do and no parties to attend, no one wants me.

These are just a few things you may be thinking as there are many sad stories of holiday woe, so do make note of what lies your mind has been proposing to you so you can move past them. This is how I approach these thought-forms so I can enjoy the holidays with an open heart, gratitude and joy.

First, I recognize that my family also has many beliefs about the holidays that they feel compelled to hold me to. While I respect my family and do my best to be with them (since it brings them so much joy) – there have been times when I’ve been exhausted and personal time took precedence over being with my family. If this is the case for you – don’t defend yourself to your family as you are not a victim. Simply let them know what is going on, what you are doing and do your best to find a way to connect with them again as soon as you can. That is being respectful to both dreams. Know that there is no absolute rule that you must be with family at this time of year – but also look at the reasons why you might not want to be with them. If you have any fear on your side born of judgment of any of your family members then you are not acting from love but from your fear-based thought-forms.

Second, if you’re alone at the holidays it’s because you’ve created your life that way, not because the world is against you or that you’re unlovable. If you’ve just moved to a new city and you don’t know anyone – join a club and go to their holiday activities, take a class in holiday cooking or wine tasting, or even commit to volunteering at your local hospital. Notice how your mind will create the exact conditions you need in your life to prove to you what you already believe about yourself (that you are not loveable).

Third, neediness is the expression of a victimized mind that has no self love. If you think your holidays would be better if you were in relationship this is simply not truth. The most important relationship you have is with yourself. And if that is fulfilling you will not need anyone else. Yes, of course it’s lovely to have a companion in life as we are social animals – but neediness is not love.

Last of all, the bottom line is that the holidays are just another set of days in your life – no better or worse than any other days. It’s only because you assign great importance to these days do they become painful. I encourage you to purposely spend your holiday with yourself doing fun things like ice-skating, holiday window shopping, catching up with movies, listening to beautiful music in the tub, having a massage, and just relaxing. Learn to take actions that prove to you that you love yourself rather than using the holidays to prove that you are not loved.

With all my love & blessings. Sheri Rosenthal

Home to of almost a third of New Zealand’s whole population, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city. However, the term city should be used loosely when describing Auckland, as it’s really a mix of urban and marine.

Auckland offers a very multicultural lifestyle with a wonderful watery backyard containing over 50 islands. Situated between the Hauraki Gulf to the east and the Manukau Harbour to the South, Auckland is one of only a few cities in the world to boast access to two harbours on two independent bodies of water.

Auckland is surrounded by a real variety of different geographical landscapes. A half hour journey from the city centre could take you up a volcano, through a rainforest, along an empty black sand beach, across the harbour to one of the islands or to a vineyard to sample some of the region’s best wines. Auckland’s proximity to such varied geography, in addition to it’s warm climate and easy layout creates a lifestyle commonly ranked in the world’s top ten.

With a population of 1.3 million, the Auckland region is home to over a quarter of Kiwis.

Things to do in Auckland

Vineyards and beaches can be found to the north, south and west of Auckland. Visitors can encounter New Zealand’s unique bird and tree species, including the giant kauri tree in the native forests of the Hunua and Waitakere ranges.

Auckland’s multicultural society is reflected in it’s many islands, each one with it’s own character and activities. Visitors can choose between Rangitoto, Waiheke, Motuihe or Kawau, Great Barrier and Tiri Tiri Matangi a bit further out. Whatever island you choose to visit, you will be able to find ultimate relaxation or an island adventure, just make sure you take gear to match.

With influences from Polynesia, Japan, Europe, South America, the Mediterranean and Thailand, Auckland’s culinary scene offers an exciting array of choice to all its visitors.

Auckland is well known for its art and fashion scene making it a haven for visitors who enjoy shopping. A walk around the city will give visitors an idea of the creativeness on offer to them, and also the chance to sample the excellent local theatre and the Auckland live music scene.

Main towns in the Auckland region

Auckland City – largest urban area in New Zealand

Great Barrier Island – a large island with a small population

Pukekohe – major attractions include motor racing, horse racing and garden fresh vegetables

Rangitoto – volcanic island erupted from the seabed around 600 years ago

Waiheke Island – pleasure-loving island famous for its many vineyards

Brighton Rocks…

Forget kitsch stereotypes, Brighton offers a truly unique and cosmopolitan city break…

With the advance of low-cost airline travel and cheap last-minute deals, many holidaymakers are opting to jump across to Europe for a week and embark upon the increasingly popular ‘city break’. But how about reducing your carbon-footprint and visiting one of the UK’s most cultured, cosmopolitan and unique cities, all from the luxury of your holiday home? With a vast array of houses, apartments and cottages to suit every need, a break in Brighton makes a refreshing change…

Forget everything you think you know about the seaside. Sticks of rock, arcade machines, piers, inflatable dinghies and buckets and spades are all well and good when stereotyping the average British seaside holiday, but are becoming increasingly out-dated as Britain’s seaside becomes more cultured, classy and cosmopolitan. Brighton is one such example, a leading light of seaside towns and a truly unique place possessing a blend of cultures, history, nationalities and attractions into one thriving and chic urban playground.

Brighton offers one of the best nights out in England. Possessing a wealth of pubs, bars and nightspots (nearly 200!), whether you’re after a quiet drink visiting friends, a night of glamorous cocktails or an all-night clubbing experience, Brighton has something for you. Its nightlife is renowned, with several famous DJs regularly spinning records at the city’s bars and clubs, including Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox and Felix Da Housecat.

If your appetite gets the better of you, you’re never far from an unrivalled choice of restaurants and eateries. Whether it’s fish and chips on the beach, or a night of fine wining and dining, there are well over 200 destinations, catering for every taste bud! Brighton is also home to leading restaurants catering for those with special dietary requirements. ‘Food For Friends’ is one such example, a fantastic restaurant offering a wheat-free and vegetarian menu, which is well worth a visit, vegetarian or not! Alternatively, there is an abundance of shops selling locally grown and organic produce, enabling visitors to truly taste the diverse culture and rural heritage of Brighton and the rural tradition of the surrounding coastline and countryside.

This cosmopolitan seaside city also offers some of the best shopping in the south of England. The Laines are famous for their unique atmosphere, culture and array of shops, boutiques, stalls, markets and cafes. From huge bric-a-brac goldmine, ‘Snoopers Paradise’ to vintage clothing shops, organic food stores and inspiring art galleries, the Laines have something to offer everyone.

Whilst the city’s hotels offer tourists pleasant accommodation, the best way to experience Brighton’s unique culture is to fully immerse oneself within the city’s thriving heartbeat. Brighton boasts an impressive assortment of self-catering houses, apartments and cottages, and all of them afford you the freedom to explore this wonderful city at your own accord. So what are you waiting for? A warm welcome awaits every visitor to Brighton, and a thousand treasures are waiting to be uncovered!

Jerez is built upon an old Moorish fortress that has been partially restored. In land area, it is the largest municipality in the area with a lot of its ground being used to grow fruit and to herd cattle and horses. Its strength now lies in the processing of the grape into fortified wines, world-famous, for globally exported products such as the estimable sherries; Domecq, Gonzalez Byass and Harveys.

Horses are of huge significance in Jerez, which is also home to the reputable Royal Andalucian School of Equestrian Art where performances of these noble hoofed animals take place every week during the summer. There are sixty stables, which enjoy regular tours, and practical use of dressage, tacking, and the blacksmith skills of shoeing these thoroughbreds. There is also equipment that is still used on the horses today that dates back to the 18th century.

The town centre is predominantly pedestrianised; palm trees linger exotically throughout the squares. There are many shops to whet your appetite and unsurprisingly it has crafts related to sherry making such as barrel making. It also has an excellent saddle shop that sells well-worked leather items. And it also sells items related to flamenco dancing, which is another favourite pastime of the Jerez townsfolk that they gladly share with their many visitors dancing into the early hours of the morning.

The golden beaches of Costa de la Luz start at approximately 9km away from Jerez. Victoria beach plays host, not only to sun worshipping bathers, but also a promenade that has many bars and restaurants that serve food from the tapas to haute cuisine. The Santa Maria del Mar stretches along ancient city walls near Osborne – another famous sherry producing area. Then there is the Cortadura, a wild beach but one that has been awarded seven prestigious blue flag awards. The average temperatures start from a relatively warm 10ºC in the coolest month of January to a sizzling 26ºC in August. Water sports are also provided at the coast with a game of golf readily available in and around the area of Jerez.

Jerez airport is only 5km away from the city so transfers will not be expensive. Shuttle services are frequent and there is always the cab to whisk you away to your final destination. However, if you can, rent a hire car – this will get you to most places in and around Jerez and it will be ready when you are. Shuttle services and car hire can be arranged in advance and often can be done at the same time as booking your flight tickets. Car rental desks are also located at the airport.

The final destination – there are many hotels ranging from the humble bed and breakfast to the more grandiose five-star. However, another popular option and more flexible approach is to rent your holiday home. These can be tailored around your preferences; from a traditional styled Andalucian home to a more modern luxurious villa stretching near the coastline.

You have probably heard of many port cities around the world, you may have heard of Malaga, it is a port city and can be found in Andalusia, in the South of Spain. The Costa del Sol is the coast where this city is located, hence it is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. Looking at the census of 2007, the population recorded was around 575,000. This city is enveloped within mountains with Malaga’s central city located at the back of the port.

There are 2 festivals that take place in Malaga which are very famous. They are the Fair of Malaga and The Holy Week. The inhabitants of Malaga prefer the celebration of the Malaga Fair to take place in August, because it is regarded as the regions hottest month. During this festival the streets of Malaga replicate the streets from Spanish history. The entire city becomes a symbol of Spanish culture and history with decorations all over the streets. The live flamenco shows fill the streets and the city is covered in sweet wine and tapas. The city comes to life with dancing and games, the whole city is filled with festivity.

The history of Malaga is quite interesting. The Phoenicians who are suspected to be from the Tyre region are said to have founded the city of Malaga. The name of the city Malaga is derived from the word Malaka which means salt in Phoenicians. This name was chosen because of all the salt water fish that can be found in the harbor. This is most probably the reason why they would have settled down in this area because of the abundant fish and other resources that were available in the area. In the 8th century this land was ruled over by the Muslims who were ruling over Spain at that point in time. This land became an important center of trade. The Costa del Sol is a splendid tourist spot.

Travelers who passed through this land left many historical records about Malaga being one of the most beautiful areas in the region. There is a lot of poetry that describes the beauty of the land and also many historical accounts claiming that the land has an abundant source of fruits and other food stuff that were used for trade with the other lands in the area. The pomegranates were said to have no equal in the world. This was also one of the cities where the Arabs ruled over for many year and it was because of the fertile lands of the area that the Arabs were reluctant to let go of the land. The Christians struggled for many years to get the Arabs out of the land and finally in the years of 1487 they took control of the area. This was five years before Granada fell. In the year of 1704 the largest naval battle which was a part of the War of Spanish succession took place in the south sea of Malaga.

From the year of 1960 onwards, the economy of Malaga was boosted heavily because of the influx of tourists in the city. This helped the country to strengthen its economical backbone and has helped to tremendously develop the country.

We live near the sea, so we weren’t really used to going on holidays, but one year we decided to change this: we had some money but didn’t know where to go. We formed a family meeting and started making proposals: the problem was that all of the destinations were near the sea, which wasn’t what we wanted because we were sick with it. But then, out of nowhere, our youngest daughter told us that she had seen a video on television presenting a country which had great tourist possibilities for people who wanted to go inline. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember the name of the country, the only thing she knew was that the name started with a “c”. We turn on our computer and soon started to search for this mystical destination. It took us a lot of time, we had almost stopped, but in the end we found it – we decided to spend our holiday in Croatia.

We had decided to go to Slavonia because it was perfect for what we wanted: it was inline, had beautiful vast plains and it generally looked really promising. After a search for an accommodation in Croatia, we found a village which looked so great: it wasn’t big, so we knew we would have enough peace and quiet. But the thing that made us completely sure about our choice was the landscape: all the houses in the village were wooden, there was a big forest where we could go for a walk, near the village there was a river and there were golden plains full of wheat and corn, which looked amazing.

On the Internet, when we were searching for a place to stay, we found an article which said that private accommodation in Croatia (they meant apartments in Croatia) is a better choice than a hotel, at least for what we wanted. But we soon found out that these weren’t really apartments, these were actually smaller houses available for rent, but we didn’t bother with this because it suited our needs perfectly.

This village was a perfect solution for us because there was a big playground for our youngest child, our two daughters were able to go for a walk, watch television and use the Internet ; me and my wife could lie down with no worries on our mind: my wife didn’t have to cook because we ate their delicious meals and drank their wine. It was a truly relaxing and hedonistic holiday. We hope to spend our next holiday in Croatia, and we surely won’t go to a hotel because apartments in Croatia give you a way to truly experience everything the country has to offer.