Yes, there was an educational aspect to the long weekend, or week if you were really lucky, but for the most part it was great fun just heading abroad to a new and exciting city.

So, what are the best destinations for a school trip to Europe?

Paris

When you’re young (or even as an adult) Paris is one of the most enchanting cities of the world. It has a well-deserved reputation as a city of romance, art, music and culture.

Paris, France by Trey Ratcliff

While the romance will be strictly off the cards for the youngsters they will all have heard of the magnificent Eiffel Tower; erected in 1889 and standing 320 metres tall it is the most recognised icon of Paris, and indeed France.

Not far from here is the Louvre, Paris’ stunning, not to mention enormous museum and of course the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, her curious smile put to canvas more than 500 years ago.

Don’t forget Notre-Dame Cathedral, the centre point of Victor Hugo’s famous tale “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” and the resting place of the Unknown Soldier, the Arc de Triomphe.

As the first major destination once you’ve passed through the Channel Tunnel, Paris is by far the most popular, but don’t forget about the next two great cities.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a fabulous city, made up of 90 islands created by miles of canals, with 1,280 bridges connecting them all together.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands by MorBCN

The best way to see the city is by canal tours which stop at all of the major landmarks. One of the most famous stories of World War Two is The Diary of Anne Frank, a German-born girl who sadly didn’t survive the war following her arrest in 1944 when her family and four other Jewish families were discovered hiding in a cramped house. The house in now a museum, a testament to Anne and all of those who didn’t survive.

An impressive stop that must not be missed is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Built in 1855, citizens of the city were so impressed by its grandeur they declared it the eighth wonder of the world. It was once even home to the French king Louis Napoleon.

Brussels

It might be famous as the home of the European Parliament, but for literature fans out there you’ll be more excited by its connection to Hergé and his famous creation, the intrepid journalist Tintin.

The city is festooned with tributes to Belgium’s most famous cartoon character. There are walks, statues, museums, and even hotels that pay tribute in some way. Check out this list of Tintin related sights and landmarks.

Of course, let’s not forget that other thing that Belgium is famous for, and a favourite of children, chocolate! In November 2012 is the first Belgian Chocolate Fair, which will be kicking off Chocolate Week, how can you resist?

These cities are great for children of all ages you get a real taste of (chocolate) and exciting European cultures.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article links back to http://www.eurostar.com

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Lefkada, Greece / Fod Tzellos

Getting Away From It All

Going away to a villa has many benefits. Firstly, if you are taking a lot of people with you in your holiday party, you can generally get much better value for money. The cost of rooming a group of 8, consisting of 4 couples, into a hotel or apartments would be high in comparison to the cost of a villa, where you simply pay for the accommodation. There is also the added luxury of having your own space, no idiots larking around in the swimming pool and getting in the way while trying to relax, and importantly, no shortage of sunbeds because everyone put their towels on them when they got in from clubbing at 3am!

So where are the best destinations in Europe for luxury villas?

Lefkada, Greece

Sitting just off the Greek mainland on the western side, Lefkada has in recent years grown as a popular holiday destination, both the whole island and the town at the northern tip of the island. There are several idyllic locations all along the Lefkada coast, with some of the best views coming from the smaller island to the south east of Lefkada itself, where great destinations can be found in Meganisi and Vathy. Regular ferry services run from Lefkada itself to the smaller island, making it an ideal location to escape both your regular life and the tourists.

Kefalonia, Greece

Just to the south of Lefkada is the island of Kefalonia. For tourists looking to head towards Greece, this is another great destination with high quality, luxury villas situated all along this islands beautiful coastline.

Both Lefkada and Kefalonia have high quality golf courses, so should that be a hobby of yours it’s easy to fit in a few rounds in the warm sunshine, a far cry from the wind and rainswept courses in the UK! In addition to this, both of these idyllic islands can be discovered with two or three days of car hire, giving you the opportunity to spend some time away from your luxury villa and explore the historical surroundings.

Touristorama helps you plan your next vacation in Greece or the Greek Islands. Lefkada, Greece is said to be the ideal location to escape both your regular life and the tourists.

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Durdle Door, Dorset, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

The vast majority of Durdle Door is composed of limestone which is why over the centuries it has slowly eroded away to form the arch. Its mammoth size however has led to its popularity over the years. Countless people have made their way to Durdle Door and to enjoy the English countryside.

The limestone rock formation has appeared in a number of music videos over the last few decades which have increased its popularity. One of the more popular videos is the Tears for Fears’ Shout video which was filmed on location in and around Durdle Door. Also, Pink Floyd fans have seen an image of the rock formation in the lyric books supplied with every “The Division Bell” album sold.

The rock that the Durdle Door is composed of stretch for great distances in every direction. They can be found hundreds of meters inland as well as out in the sea. Those who visit the Durdle Door will also be able to see the Bull which is located just off shore. This has been determined to be a continuation of the rock that the door itself is made of.

Durdle Door, Dorset Coast, England, UK by W. Lloyd MacKenzie

While there are many things to see and do in England, many people make the choice to head out into the countryside to get as far away from the hustle and bustle of life in London. While there are many great attractions in the capital city, some of the best destinations in the country are not.

There are countless castles and other ruins of days gone by that can be found in and around the area where the Durdle Door is located. The area known as the Jurassic Coast is one of the more popular destinations in the country.

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