Typical Malta and its islands coastline by Martin Lopatka

Adventure Sports

If your idea of a holiday doesn’t involve being solidly sedentary, take a walk on the wild side, and get some adventure filled adrenaline coursing through your veins. Rock climbing and bouldering are great way to get super fit and super focused, while having fun and meeting new people. The heat of summer will no doubt limit your activity to early morning and late evening, but you can fill the rest of your day with kayaking, water skiing, wind surfing, sailing, and of course, swimming.

Diving

Malta is renowned for its fantastic and diverse dive sites. There is plenty of marine life to see, and wrecks and caves to explore. Dive schools can be found all over the island offering certified courses and beginner dives.

Beach combing

Nothing beats the feeling of sand between your toes, a cool breeze on your neck and the aroma of the sea all around. Malta’s coastline is beautiful and there are many beaches to choose from, each different to the next, and each with its own unique style. Spend your holiday discovering a new place to sunbake every day.

Valletta, Malta by Vicki Burton

Fishing

They say there’s nothing more relaxing than spending the day with a quiet companion; sitting by the water with a fishing rod in one hand and a cool beer in the other. Either hire your own equipment and find a good spot, or go out on a boat fishing trip with a local company.

Village Festa

An evening spent at a village festa is a unique way to get to know the local people and experience the local culture. Every village on Malta and Gozo will celebrate their saint during the summer and there is a festa every weekend, so just ask a local and they’ll tell you which village to visit at any given time. There will be music and dancing; food and drink, colourful characters and possibly a little mayhem. The feast is a family affair so take the kids with you and join in the fun.

Popeye village

Another one to enjoy with children is Popeye village, at Anchor Bay in Malta. Originally the set for the Popeye movie starring Robin Williams, the village is now a small theme park that attracts tourists all year round. It’s great for kids because there are loads of attractions that will keep them entertained, including; animators, puppet shows, an indoor play area, a funfair, a shaded play pool and a swimming pool. Anchor Bay is also a lovely area to go for a swim in the sea and enjoy the scenery.

Popeye village, Malta by njaminjami

Live Music Events

The Malta Jazz festival takes place in July and draws high profile musicians from around the world. The backdrop for the event is the Valletta waterfront and Grand Harbour; the event is spread over three days and the experience is priceless. If Jazz is not your thing, the Isle of MTV is in late June; it rocks a massive crowd, and draws big names from the world of pop music, and it doesn’t disappoint.

The Malta Experience and The Mdina Experience

Sometimes in summer, the best thing to do is get out of the sun. Spending a little time getting lost in Malta’s spellbinding history is highly rewarding and will give you a much better understanding of the hearts of the Maltese people. Whether you’re visiting Valletta or Mdina, be sure to take the time to sit back and watch Malta’s story unfold before you.

Mdina, Malta by Brian Brake

Amanda Webb enjoys writing about Malta. Malta offers a variety to tourists where they can stay in one of the luxury four star hotels renowned for their peaceful location in Bugibba.

The post Things to do in Malta in the summer appeared first on Europe Explored.

The mistake so many people make is they spend a fortune on a family vacation each year. Chances are Spain and France are top of the list, this is a very expensive option. But what you may not realise is you can spend less money and have a fantastic vacation experience right here in the UK. Explore areas of the country you haven’t visited before. Have you been to Scotland? Have you visited the cobbled streets of Chester? Have you seen the magnificent manor houses in Northamptonshire?

Chester, England, UK by Christopher John SSF

Find A Place to Go

Whenever we planned our family vacations we would automatically head somewhere sunny. While this was a fantastic option when the UK was financially stable, after the recession the air tickets, accommodation and spending for an overseas holiday wasn’t an option.

We gave it some thought and realised that we didn’t know our own country. Actually I think I knew Paris and France better than I ever knew the UK. So we started looking for short-stay apartments Northampton. We found some good options where it was self catering, saving us money and we could drive there instead of fly, an even cheaper option.

Outdoors Experiences

I love the outdoors from adventure sports to hiking and bicycling and always thought I wouldn’t find these things in the UK. I was so wrong which I found out on our holiday to Northamptonshire. After finding some short-stay apartments Northampton, we started looking at outdoor activities in the area.

Once we had arrived and settled into our self catering apartment our outdoor adventure started. There was so much to choose from right on the doorstep from hang-gliding and white river rafting to hiking and horseback riding.

I knew there were places in the UK where you could walk or cycle, these are big activities here, but I didn’t realise there were fantastic adventure sports that I love, I even got to go rally car driving. It was a phenomenal experience and one not to be forgotten.

Northampton market, England, UK by G-Man

Explore the UK

You probably wonder how I could ever consider remaining in the UK a fantastic holiday. It’s always wet and grey here, the weather is unpredictable and I’m not going to go home with a sun tan. While I may not go home from my vacation all bronzed, I guarantee I will be relaxed, I would have had an outstanding holiday doing what I love and I will be back again for more.

If you ever want to find a holiday that isn’t overly expensive, that you can reach by car within a few short hours and enjoy a host of activities, then you may want to consider staying right here in the UK.

Northampton Guildhall, England, UK by Chris Nyborg

Plan Your Trip

The advantage with staying right here on home soil is that you can get away for a short weekend break or mid week break as and when you are in the mood. You can find fantastic short-stay apartments Northampton, pack your bags and get on the road and be there within a few short hours.

The internet is alive with information and you can find all the fun things to do in the area from visiting the famous Silverstone race track to playing golf at one of the golf courses or getting the family involved in a day of paint balling fun.

With so much to do and see right here in the UK, you get to explore all aspects of our country, from the sleepy villages to the bustling cities. Soak up the heritage at the museums or head off for a quiet picnic in the botanical gardens.

Short-stay apartments Northampton are an ideal choice when planning a holiday in the UK. You are central to all the fantastic outdoor activities, magnificent manor houses and museums, so you really can soak up some of this country’s history and culture.

The post Great Holidays On Home Soil appeared first on Europe Explored.

If the average cycle through the park just isn’t enough to get the blood pumping through your veins, then check out our list of adventure sports in the Aberdeen area and get ready to experience some serious thrills and chills…

Cycling in Aberdeen, Scotland, UK by kellyhogaboom

Cycling

Cycle your way to your own set of “thunder thighs” with an afternoon of mountain biking. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, not to worry – outfits like Cycle Highlands can get you out of the Granite City and onto the trails.

They even offer special guided packages like the “Secret Singletrack” and “Discover Mountain Biking” to help you along whether you’re a beginner or an old pro.

Mountaineering

Lace up for a challenging hike in the Scottish mountains outside Aberdeen. There’s a number of companies in the area – like Alpha Mountaineering for example – that offer guided walks for all ages year round.

Conquer the summit with an afternoon of hillwalking or scale the mountainside on a rock climbing adventure, the Highlands have plenty of high peaks to oblige you.

Snowsports

Think there’s no snow in Scotland? Think again. You can carve it out on the hills year round without ever worrying about the weather at the Aberdeen Snowsports Centre – this snowflex fun park has everything from rails to moguls for skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.

If you’d rather keep it conventional and feel the wind in your hair, a hotel in Aberdeen can serve as the perfect base for some of Scotland’s best hills come wintertime.

Situated in the Cairgorms, Lecht ski centre is less than two hours from the city centre and boasts some 18 runs for those of us who want to get bundled up in the great outdoors.

Zip Wire

Test your fear of heights and penchant for monkeying around at the Go Ape – Crates Castle. Zip, climb and swing through one of Scotland’s most beautiful forests on your tree top adventure – perfect for a family day out.

This treetop obstacle course isn’t for the faint of heart – at its highest point, the course is 8.6 metres off the ground, and has a Zip Wire some 125 metres long.

Kitesports

Remember when you were a kid and you’d head out to the park on a windy day and watch in awe as it glided around the sky? Maybe not. But either way – kitesports takes adventure sports to the next level. From powerkite to kitebuggy, kiteboard and kitesurf , Synergy kitesports offers courses to help you harness Scotland’s wind power and feel the rush.

What are your favourite adventure sports?

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to https://www.parkinn.co.uk/hotel-aberdeen

The post Adventure Sports in Aberdeen | Scotland, UK appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Taro the Shiba Inu

Unplanned Illness or Accidents

Travel insurance covers medical expenses for those on trips. It could cover the price of the trip if the tickets or flights or tour has to be canceled before leaving. If there are medical emergencies such as bacteria or viruses or an accident, the insurance will include physician visits, treatment, pharmaceutical drugs, hospitalization or medical evacuation. Lack of cash could hinder treatment or rescue and could lead to death. Often domestic insurance will not take care of overseas medical treatment. A majority of travel insurances is capable of providing these services internationally as they can access the source to handle the circumstances. As well, illness on a trip means missing part or all of a vacation. Trips based on adventure sports can increase the chance for injuries.

Lost or Damaged Luggage

A traveler can be an extremely alert person, but when traveling, one’s luggage can be either damaged or destroyed or lost temporarily or permanently. This insurance is essential while checking baggage with airlines when traveling internationally. While travel insurance will not compensate for the total value of the lost or damaged belongings, it will provide a means of replacing a portion of the goods. This is especially true if carrying a costly camera or laptop.

Peace of Mind

Depending on the trip and destination, travel insurance can be inexpensive, costing $100 to $150 for a two-week journey. Travel insurance is beneficial whether helping a traveler to deal with a family member’s death or lost travel documents. It can be used to replace a reservation for a flight or hotel. Travelers can decrease the stress that a hospital visits or loss of equipment or luggage by having insurance. The traveler can have peace of peace of mind knowing these are protected.

Cancelled Trip

The insurance protects the outlay for the trip if it is canceled by either the tour operator or airlines if they declare bankruptcy or go out of business. Most travelers assume that travel agents, tour companies, airlines and hotels are reliable. Travel insurance will cover the cost or other expenses if the trip is canceled because of illness, natural disaster, political upheavals, terrorist attacks or natural disasters. It includes the cost of the canceled or changed tours because of illness or natural disaster.

Required by Tour Operator

Many guided tour companies require travel insurance and could demand a certificate proving the purchase of travel insurance, particularly in less-developed countries. There is much to be gained by traveling in a group on a planned tour. It allows deeper exploration into the cultures of the country.

Travelers will find that it is wise to invest in travel insurance. It is difficult to anticipate the unknown problems that could occur while traveling. Wise tourists plan and insure the financial expenditures and the occurrences before leaving. Emergencies such as illness, travel cancellations and natural disasters can be managed. It is better not to have a spoiled holiday or business outing.

Jerry Edgars is a financial consultant and occasionally blogs for kanetix.ca where you can get travel insurance quotes now as well as all kinds of other online insurance quotes.

The post 5 Reasons to have Travel Insurance appeared first on Europe Explored.