Lindos beach, Rhodos, Greece by Ana Raquel S. Hernandes

1. When we go on our summer vacation we want to spend some time relaxing on a beach. The problem is that everybody else has the same idea and the best beaches are usually crammed to the breaking point. Well, when you travel to Rhodos, try to take a trip to Ladiko Bay as it rarely gets overcrowded. Also known as Anthony Quinn Bay this is a great place to swim, snorkel and relax by the sea. You probably will not be the only people on the sand but there will not be the crowds found in other places.

2. If you hire a car, then you want to explore the island. So travel up into the mountains to Petaloudes. This is known as the valley of the Butterflies because there are lots of them about. The admission fee into the park is pretty reasonable and the drive up to it is worth it alone. The air is cooler up here which is sometimes a relief in the warmer months and you can enjoy the beautiful walks along the trails, where butterflies and moths flutter around you.

3. When you visit Rhodos town you will want to see the old section. Start your tour at the Avenue of the Knights where the protectors of the city used to live. The cobblestone road is over half a kilometre long and surrounded by spectacular foreboding buildings that are made from golden stone. The history and culture of the area can be felt in the atmosphere although many of the original inns are now offices.

4. Whilst you are in Rhodes Town you have to see some ruins so make your way to the Acropolis of Rhodes. This is where the ancient town used to be sited and it is on top of a hill so the views are spectacular. From here you can enter the Temple of Pythian Apollo, which has seen some reconstruction work and is truly outstanding. When you travel to Rhodos you are never far away from history and that makes the trip an absolute must.

5. Alright, there might be plenty to do already, but if you are still looking for more, then you will have to visit The Red Lion pub in Rhodes Town. This might not seem like one of the best places to see on the island but for those that like to learn about where they have travelled to, it is a very useful place to be. The pub is loosely based on the English Pub theme and the atmosphere is relaxed and easy going. The best bit is the owners Ron and Vasilis as they know everything there is to know about the island. Buy a drink and tap their knowledge and you will find all the information you need to make your stay a great one.

So when you travel to Rhodos (Interesting information for you could be that the Danish term is rejser to Rhodos) try not to spend all day on the beach and get out and see some sights. It really will make your holiday a much better experience.

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Although the weather will not be as hot in the wintertime, it will still be between 17-20 degrees during the day time in this region of southern Portugal. If you find temperatures of 30 degrees uncomfortable then this time of year might actually be a more enjoyable time for you to visit. It will not be hot enough to work on your tan every day but it will still likely be one of the warmest places in Europe. There might be a few rains during your holiday and the temperatures will drop in the evenings, but there are many advantages to visiting the Algarve in the winter.

First of all, you will be able to get the cheaper off season rates at many of the hotels and resorts which will save you a lot of money. There will also be fewer crowds so that you will not have to search for hours to find a vacant sun lounger or wait for a table at a restaurant. Although some of the local businesses will have shorter hours or might close during the winter months, there will still be plenty of selection. This is also a great time to visit the Algarve with kids, because the lack of crowds will make it less hectic and much easier to travel.

Another advantage is that while everyone else is enduring the freezing cold back home, you will be enjoying the pleasant temperatures and sunny days of the Algarve.

If you are planning a getaway to the Algarve this winter, here are some ideas of what you can do while you are there:

Go Golfing

The weather in the Algarve is warm enough to golf all year round and you might find it more pleasant to tee off in these cooler temperatures rather than the peak season heat. There are many excellent golf resorts in the area such as Monte da Quinta Club, Four Seasons Fairways and more which offer beautifully manicured professional courses.

Go Hiking

The weather will be just fine for hiking around the beautiful Portuguese countryside. Explore the winding country lanes and discover waterfalls in the forest, olive groves and picturesque seaside fishing villages. There are many coastal cliff walks all along the stunning Algarve coast, but these can sometimes be dangerous so always follow the marked path.

One of the best places to hike in the Algarve is the Ria Formosa Natural Park. This protected wetland is one of the most significant natural habitats for birds in Europe and many different species stop here on their migratory routes. There are several guided walking trails throughout the park that you can explore.

Listen to Some Live Music in Algarve, Quarteira, Portugal by run4unity

Take a look at the event listings in the area that you are staying and try to catch some live music while you are in the Algarve. Many pubs and restaurants might have performances of Fado, which is a traditional Portuguese style of hauntingly beautiful folk music about life near the sea.

Enjoy the Food

Of course, no trip to the Algarve would be complete without sampling the delicious food that this part of the world has to offer. Seafood is especially delicious in the Algarve as it is so fresh in this coastal region. Another tasty dish is Piri-Piri chicken which is tender barbecued chicken with a fiery North-African influenced spicy coating. No matter what the weather is like outside, you can always spend hours lingering over good food and wine with friends in a welcoming local restaurant.

A holiday in the Algarve in the off season can still be packed with fun, so why not check out some of these fun activities during your winter getaway?

If you are visiting Four Seasons Fairways or another Algarve resort this winter, here are some off-season activities you might enjoy.

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Evening in Venice – just before the great storm / Photo by admin

Most Romantic Time of Year to Visit

Venice, or Venezia, as it’s known to the locals, has the best weather in late spring and early summer. Unfortunately, that also makes it the busiest, most crowded and most expensive time of year to go. Skip summer altogether, as the heat and the smell from the canals is decidedly unromantic. Autumn is a possible alternative as the weather cools and the crowds thin. However, it also marks the start of high water season which can sometimes be inconvenient – and wet. The best bargains and fewest crowds can be found during the winter, but be ready to bundle up since winters are indeed cold. On the bright side, snuggling up to keep warm can be very romantic.

Most Romantic Things to See and Do

While just about any activity can be romantic if you’re in love, there are certain things to see and do in Venice that are particularly romantic. From gondola rides to simply losing yourself in the city, the following is a list of the most romantic things to see and do in Venice:

Romantic evening in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Go for the Gondola

It may be cliché, but no romantic visit to Venezia is complete without a gondola ride. However, for the most romantic experience possible, it’s good to keep a few things in mind:

• Gondola rides can be expensive. Gondola fares are set, but do get more expensive at night or if they are booked through an agency or your hotel. They are also more expensive the longer they are (average is 40 minutes) or if your gondolier sings (not all do). The fare goes down significantly if you share your gondola with other riders, but that’s not terribly romantic.
• Venice is divided into six neighborhoods. For a more secluded (and possibly less expensive) ride, board a gondola in one of the less busy neighborhoods.
• If you simply cannot afford a gondola, try a traghetto instead. A traghetto is similar to a gondola (though not as romantic) and will take you across the Grand Canal for less than a dollar.

Evening in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Sunrise, Sunset

There are several things to do in Venice that are exponentially more romantic when done either at sunrise or at sunset. Here’s just a partial list of the best dawn and dusk has to offer:

• Walk the city at sunrise – While it may be hard to want to get out of bed before dawn, the effort is well worth it. The streets are quiet and empty as the locals are setting up for another gorgeous day. As sunlight begins to flood the city streets, grab a latte at a local café and relax as the city comes to life.
• St. Mark’s Square – This location is magical at both ends of the day. Travelers and romantics in the know recommend dancing in St. Mark’s Square at dawn as one of the most romantic things a couple can do in Venice. If it happens to be close to evening, climb Giotto’s Campanile (bell tower) for a stunning view of the city at sunset.
• Take a twilight photography tour – Walk the city’s most beautiful sites and photograph them while they’re bathed in romantic swatches of color and light. Make sure your tour includes the Bridge of Sighs, a romantic location in its own right.

Lost in Venice, Italy / Photo by admin

Touch a Heart

There is a street in Venice, Sotoportego dei Preti, where those seeking love can find a heart in an arched stone entryway between two houses. Sotoportego dei Preti might be hard to find but legend has it if you’re in a relationship and you touch the heart together, your love will last forever.

Venice is, in a word, romantic. Losing your map and losing yourself in the city is one of the most romantic things you can do. Let the city take you where it will and let your heart lead the way.

Contributing blogger Cora Righton lives for romance, having chased it down the streets of Italy for most of her adult life.

The post In Love In (and With) Venice appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by admin

First of all, a rented villa offers much more space than a hotel at a much lower price. Most villas are airy and well maintained. Some even have terraces where you can have open-air meals or just sit down and enjoy the view all around you. Others come with a pool where you can take a relaxing swim or entertain guests and friends.

Renting a villa during your cheap holiday in Italy will also offer you the privacy that you cannot get at a hotel. You can have peace and quiet and you can be sure that you won’t be bothered by the crowds especially during the peak season.

If you love to cook, then a villa is perfect for you since it is equipped with a working kitchen and other comforts of home. You will be able to have the foods that you are used to at a much lower price. This will also give you the chance to explore the local markets and get to know the local people. When you stay in a villa on your cheap holiday in Italy, it is basically living in your home away from home.

So if you are just in looking for some accommodation in Italy, think about this tip!

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Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages of France. Thanks to the nearby ocher mines, which are a major tourist attraction, has the whole village a reddish colour. Also, the local soil has all the shades of red, ranging from beige to dark red. It used to be mined 17 different colors of ocher – purple, red, orange, yellow, and many others. The history of this site dates back to 230 million years ago, when all the area of Provence was under the sea. The sand at the bottom contained iron, which later oxidized, and such created the ocher.

Already the ancient Romans used it to produce glazes on pottery. In 18th century the local residents found out how to adjust the pigment to be resistant to water. With this discovery, a new industry of colors began. Such colors could be used not only for surface treatment of ceramic products, but also in painting houses. The production of colours decreased in 50′s of 20th century. Nowadays, the ocher is not mining any more and this pigment is produced artificially. The village, however, maintain the original color, and together with its surrounding it is a protected area.

In the village you can walk through the narrow and steep streets that are lined with houses with beautiful red-colored facades, houses the souvenir shops. The beautiful village of Roussillon is unfortunately flooded with crowds in the summer, so if you want to enjoy its unique atmosphere, it is good to visit in a spring or autumn.

View Roussillon – the sunniest region in France in a larger map

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When you see on a bottle of wine, a reference to Sienese Chianti then you know that the wine comes from province of Siena. At the same time Florentine Chianti comes from the province of Florence. However, all of them belong to the Chianti wine region.

Chianti, Italy by H. Hoffmeister

The entire region features gently rolling hills that are covered in large vineyards, small olive groves and many countryside villages. The homes and villages throughout the countryside are all made of stone and bring to mind the many pictures that one sees of the wine regions of Italy. The region is so beautiful, that they have inspired postcards, photographs and calendars which are distributed throughout the world today.

Every year, the many vineyards throughout the Chianti region annual produce more than eight million cases of some of the finest wines in Italy. The region is known to produce the largest volume of wines that are available throughout Italy.

There are several popular destinations throughout the Chianti region to stay. From these you can join any number of guided tours throughout the countryside. You will be able to stop and visit some of the finest wineries in Italy and even be able to taste a glass or too as you go. While it is great to visit Rome, the crowds can just be too much. For a more restful Italian get-away, millions of people over the years have opted to visit the Chianti region instead.

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