Category: destinations


Travel Guru Guide to Prague City Breaks

May 28th, 2009 — 07:31 pm
Guide To Prague City Breaks

Knowing where to go in Prague while on a break either during traveling through or stopping and staying is to know something about the city itself. Prague is the Capital of the Czech Republic and a famous historical city as well. Prague is known for hosting events like the Film, Music, and Writers Festivals as well as Fashion Shows. There is more money going through Prague than most places in all of Czech.

Prague Hotels & Sights

Prague has a wide range of hotels offering luxury and budgeted stay. The famous hotels of Prague are Corinthia Panorama, Corinthia Towers and Hotel Hilton Prague. Not to mention Prague has some of the most inspiring architecture around, one such is the St Martin Rotunda with its beautiful rounded design and historical significance. What about the grand Prague Castle and the glorious St Vitus’s Cathedral with its many spires and stained glass windows. Both of these will inspire even the most hardened of hearts and give you a memory you will never forget.

Prague City Break Attractions

There are other magnificent Churches you can visit while you are on your Prague city break, the Church of St Nicholas that brings the old world style and modern glamour in one. Then there is the view of the Wenceslas Square or the Prague Gardens such as the Petrin Park. The bridges in Prague are something else that should not be missed one fine example is the Charles Bridge.

The Neo Gothic towers of St Peters and St Paul, here you can see where myth and legend meet history are viewable by anyone and everyone as the first seat of Czech Princes and Princesses. You will also want to visit the Astronomical clock dial, which was made in 1410 by Mikulas of Kadan and Jan Ondrejuv called Sindel. There is also the National Museum to visit, the Rudolfinum or House of Artists and of course the many art galleries. You can find yourself basking in history or mixing it with the modern world.

Getting Around Prague

While on your Prague City Break you might find yourself wanting to spend more than a few hours wandering around and need a place to stay. Well with the new Ruzyne Airport only 20 km northwest getting there is easy, public transportation made up of trams and Buses or car rentals you can get around Prague easily and efficiently. There are many hotels in Prague to choose from Corinthia Panorama, Corinthia Towers and Hotel Hilton Prague to renting an apartment.



By: Travel Guru

About the Author:

One easy search for deals on Prague city breaks. Enjoy hand-picked Prague hotels combined with a flight for an unforgettable short break. Vist us at directline-citybreaks.co.uk to see how much you could save on a city break to Prague.



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Get Festive: Europe’s Christmas City Breaks

May 26th, 2009 — 02:43 am
As Christmas is literally around the corner, many European cities are preparing for the festivities by opening their Christmas markets. Historically part of the advent in Germany and Austria, it has now become part of the Christmas celebration in several cities around the world. While there are several Christmas markets around the world, the most exciting ones can be found in Vienna, Budapest, Berlin and Prague.

For the uninitiated, a Christmas market consists of several booths and stalls in the town square or other pedestrian zones selling food, drink and gifts. The food on sale includes sweets like ‘Gebrannte Mandeln’ (candied, toasted almonds), gingerbread cookies and ‘Christstollen’ or ‘Stollen’ (a bread-like cake with pieces of candied fruit inside), while mulled wine (with or without a shot of brandy) and ‘Eierpunsch’ (egg nog) are consumed to keep warm in the cold winter air.

In Vienna, the biggest Christmas market, Rathausplatz, is held in the square infront of the City Hall. Surrounded by the elaborately decorated trees in the park, it truly gives patrons the feel of a winter wonderland and offers several locations suitable for a souvenir photo. For most Viennese, Christmas Markets are not so much for shopping as for drinking, so it is a perfect opportunity to mix with the locals while sampling some of the local delicacies and mulled wine.

In Budapest the biggest Christmas market is held in Vorosmarty Square, where great emphasis is put on the quality of the handmade gifts on sale, being inspected by the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists. In addition, the quality of the entertainment has made it a truly exceptional Christmas market. This year it will be host to over 150 stage shows, including puppet theatre, folk dancing and folk music. Visitors can also make their own seasonal decorations in the heated marquee.

Berlin is host to over 50 Christmas markets, with the Gendarmenmarkt, held near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, being the most popular. Held in one of the most beautiful squares in Europe it is visited by over 4 million people every year. Berlin has a reputation for being home to young German artists, which means that in addition to traditional gifts and Christmas decorations, the fair offers unique jewellery, decorations, and artwork made by some of the most innovative artists around. The square is also surrounded by some of Berlin’s most famous department stores, making it an excellent place to do some Christmas shopping.

In Prague the two main Christmas Markets are held at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Here, visitors can sample local delicacies like corn on the cob and sausages, while local and international choirs and musical ensembles entertain them as they browse the market stalls. The goods on sale include Czech glass, scented candles, wooden toys, ceramic mugs and Christmas tree ornaments. The square also includes a Christmas tree shipped from the Sumava mountains in the South of the Czech Republic to make for a truly spectacular view against the gothic skyline.

So if you’re looking to do some shopping while sampling some scrumptious festive food, a European city break to a Christmas market is the perfect way to enjoy the seasonal atmosphere of a continental Christmas.



By: Adam Singleton

About the Author:

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen gardener. He lives in Scotland with his two dogs.



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Barcelona City Break Guide

May 25th, 2009 — 04:38 pm
There are many things that you will want to see and do while you are in Barcelona for your city break. Remember that in order to find time to do them all, you should plan your schedule out in advance.

Things to Do In Barcelona

One of the best things to do on a Barcelona city break is to get a hop on hop off bus pass. This will allow you to visit most of the important sites while you are in Barcelona. It will also give you two days of traveling on the bus in order to go from place to place, and will take you to all of the important sites. Many of these buses have two day passes you can buy, and this will be much less money than taking cabs. You will also be able to listen to the information on the tour bus and learn a lot about Barcelona.

One of the things that you want to be sure to do is to see as much of the art as you can. There are many examples of Gaudi that you can see all over the city of Barcelona. You can tour several homes made by him and several projects, such as the Sangria Famillia, one of the most important sites to see in Barcelona. You also want to be sure that you are visiting Gaudi Park, which is another important place to witness his art.

Arts & Culture

Art is not the only thing that you can see on a Barcelona City Break. You can also find music, which is something that you might want to check out. There are several live music venues that you can listen to while you are in Barcelona.

Another important thing to do on your Barcelona city break might be to check out the remnants of the Barcelona Olympics. Olympic park and village are two wonderful things that you will be able to see while you are there, and these are great experiences for your entire family.

Hit The Beach !

If you have the time, it is always nice to spend an afternoon on the beach at Barcelona. This can be a great way to enjoy the sun and sand as well as the water, and to be able to relax a little bit. Along with the traditional Spanish food that you will be able to find, you can enjoy both the day light hours and the night time hours as long as you are sure that you have it all planned out!



By: Travel Guru

About the Author:

Search directline citybreaks for all the latest deals & offers on city breaks to Barcelona.



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Guide to Paris City Breaks

May 21st, 2009 — 05:56 pm
When you have decided to take a city break in Paris, there are several things that you should do. The first thing that you want to remember is that your city break should be full of plans in order to fit in everything that you would like to do, but also that you should try to do a little bit of everything.

Plan Your Evenings

First, you want to decide how many evenings you are going to have on your Paris city break. Then, you should plan some definite events that you want to do on these evenings. One of the nights should include a nighttime ride on the water, in order to see everything lit up beautifully. Another evening should include a fancy night out in a restaurant. A third night should be a night where you can go for a romantic stroll.

Plan Your Days

After you have decide on your evenings, you should plan your days out as well as possible. If you have many days in your city break, you are going to be able to do many things. However, if you only have a couple, you are going to have to think carefully about what is important. You can see things like the Eiffel Tower, the Arch de Triumph, and several churches in one afternoon, simply by taking the underground to the various stops. On the other hand, if you plan on going to the Louvre, you should plan on having at least one full day to do this so that you don’t feel rushed and you can see as much of this as possible.

Explore, Explore & Explore

Another day you should leave for simply exploring. There are so many interesting neighborhoods in Paris that you can simply take your pick of what you would like to do. Would you like to wander down an expensive shopping street? Or would you like to explore an art district full of galleries and theatres?

Once you have decided which type of exploring you would like to do, ask your concierge which of the districts you should go to in order to do this. Remember that Paris city breaks should be fun and exciting, but should be tailored to your needs and the things that you like to do. In this way, you can make sure that the city break you have planned is exactly what you are looking for. There are so many things to see and do in Paris that you will be able to create an entire holiday around the things that you would like to do.



By: Travel Guru

About the Author:

Directline-citybreaks.co.uk searches for all the latest deals & offers on Paris city breaks. Combine quality hotels with flights or Eurostar travel.



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Amsterdam City Break Guide

May 8th, 2009 — 11:33 pm
There are many ways that you can find to appreciate the history and culture while you are in Amsterdam for a city break. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and also one with the richest history. There are several things that you should remember on your Amsterdam City break.

Small Streets and Bicycles

First of all, you want to remember that you are going to be traveling in one of the most beautiful areas in al of Europe. The small streets and many people on bicycles add to the beauty that you can find while you are in Amsterdam. This is something that you will be able to remember for the rest of your life, so be sure that you are enjoying each moment.

Amsterdam History & Sights

Something else that you want to do while you are in Amsterdam is to take in some of the history. Here is where you can see Anne Frank’s House, which is a museum of major historical importance. You should spend an afternoon at this location.

Another thing that you want to do is take a boat tour through the canal. During this time you will learn a lot about Amsterdam and the history that surrounds this place. You can usually hop on and off of these tours, and this will allow you to have time at each of the places where you wish to stop and look.

The Famous Coffee Shops

Amsterdam is famous for its small coffee shops and bars that you can visit. These are the places where you will be able to be exposed to the most culture while you are in Amsterdam. You can take your time while you are at these places, and really be able to find out what life in Amsterdam is really like.

Another thing that you will want to be sure to do on your Amsterdam city break is to take an afternoon and rent bicycles. You will be able to then ride around the city and explore. This is one of the best things that you can do because it will give you a chance to explore the city on your own terms. Just be sure that you take a map, because Amsterdam can be very confusing if you don’t know where you are going.

Remember that while you are in Amsterdam you want to be sure that you are taking advantage of the friendly people and glorious views. Both of these things can be found simply by taking an afternoon to explore.



By: Travel Guru

About the Author:

Directline Citybreaks offers all the latest deals & offers on Amsterdam city breaks.



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Venice City Break Guide

April 17th, 2009 — 07:25 am
There are several things that you are going to want to remember as you are starting your Venice city break. First of all, you have to be sure to have your arrangements made in advance so that you can be sure you have a place to stay. Also, you want to be sure that you are planning enough time to do all of the things that you would like to do while you are in Venice. Then, you can be sure that you are allowing yourself plenty of great times in Venice.

The arrangements should be made as much in advance as possible when it is time for your Venice city break. This means that you want to be sure that you have your accommodations booked as early as you can so that you can be sure that you have them. Venice is a small city, which means that there are going to be a limited number of hotel rooms. Therefore, you should have your beds set up and your arrangements made as you are ready to start your city break.

Then, it is important that you schedule yourself in a way that makes sense for you. You have to be able to get as much out of our Venice city break as you can. There are some things that you should leave time to do no matter what. You should schedule one afternoon for a boat trip that will take you to several beaches or monuments. You also want to make sure that you are leaving enough time to visit a glass blowing factory, as this is the best way that you have to witness one of the oldest art forms that you can find in Venice. You should leave plenty of time to do this, because you can witness a demonstration as well as by some blown glass.

Remember, you also need to enjoy several types of great food while you are in Venice. You want to eat at least once at one of the outdoor cafes, because this will give you a taste of what it is really like to eat in Venice. You also want to make sure that you leave enough time to find and enjoy some live music. You should leave at least one evening free, to simply wander the streets of Venice. This is because wandering these streets is a great experience. And don’t forget to plan an afternoon or evening for a Gondola ride!



By: Travel Guru

About the Author:

To find your perfect Venice city break, visit directline citybreaks and search for all the latest deals & offers.



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The Best Alternative Romantic Weekend Breaks

April 8th, 2009 — 01:43 pm
There is nothing more romantic than surprising your loved one with a trip away for a romantic weekend break. Fortunately the range and variety of trips that you could go on have never been better. Before the advent of cheap flights to European destinations romantic breaks used to be restricted to the UK and short breaks to France. But low cost airlines have put trips to more exotic places in Europe very much on the map.

This is because it can often be as cheap to fly to a distant eastern European city as it is to get the ferry to France or to get a train to Scotland. This has meant that an increasing number of couples have been able to benefit from a wide variety of beautiful destinations that they might not otherwise have considered. Europe has so much to offer and as a self professed fan of the romantic weekend break I have compiled a list of my favourite places in Europe. All of these are perfect places to spend a bit of quality time with your loved one and fortunately they are also available whatever your budget. Better still they are not the cities that you might often find on lists like these. So forget Paris, Venice and Madrid, why not try;

Ljubljana, Slovenia

I was very close to withdrawing Ljubljana from my list, not because it wasn’t worthy of a place but rather because this is one of those little gems that one should try and keep secret. Untouched by the savage tourism that has infected so many of the world’s beauty spots Ljubljana is an incredibly beautiful little city in Slovenia. The city centre is a tiny riverside conglomeration of beautiful buildings, incredible restaurants and high end boutiques. You cannot walk 30 yards without coming across a tasteful little coffee shop at which you can drink hot chocolate and enjoy the view of the medieval castle that perches on a hill overlooking the city. Close to the Alps, the Mediterranean ocean and Slovenia’s stunning lake Bled the city of Ljubljana is also a fantastic starting point for a number of day trips around this part of middle Europe.

Alghero, Sardinia

Another of the cheap flight routes from Stansted Alghero is the second largest town on the Italian Island of Sardinia. Only a couple of hours flight from the UK Sardinia has become a favourite option for many people from the UK. The best time to travel for a romantic break is in the off season where you will have almost sole access to the beautiful old town which still has a fortified feel to it that dates back thousands of years. Roam the quant cobbled streets and get a taste for Italian food and culture. Hire a car for a couple of dates and enjoy the incredible secluded beaches and coastal enclaves drenched with sun and dripping with Mediterranean charm.

Riga, Latvia

Wrap up warm and shuffle through the foreboding Baltic streets of Latvia’s Capital city Riga. The architecture in the city is overwhelming with a number of incredible cathedrals competing for space with enormous architectural masterpieces that remind you of a James Bond film. The city boasts a vast array of boutique and high end fashion stores as well as a wealth of high end coffee shops and restaurants. There are a few squares in the city which regularly play host to markets which sell a wonderful range of local foods, jewellery and warm winter wear.



By: Shaun Parker

About the Author:

Shaun Parker is an experienced traveller. He shares his experiences to help people that are looking for romantic weekened breaks and a luxury hotel london so that you can be sure to find a great deal.



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