Hiking Europe by Mia & Steve mestdagh

The first thing to consider of course is planning out your route. It all depends on what type of hiking holiday you prefer – one filled with walking along the mountain ranges, one concentrated on skiing, or some other type of holiday. After you have this in mind, you will be able to pinpoint the locations, which might suit your requirements with ease since the internet is something we all have access to these days. Make sure you research the route you have chosen well though, because there are a lot of nasty surprises, which might find you in the mountains.

After that, you should really decide what you need and want to take with you. The standard equipment will require you to bring only enough food and water for the hiking holiday, whereas everything else is based on the context of your trip. It is always good to invest in some general things of course, such as a hiking backpack. They can be found in many specialized stores across the world and they vary in sizes and applications. Good advice is to spend some time in finding a truly good backpack, which will not betray you on your trip.

Hiking Europe – 2 by Mia & Steve mestdagh

Last but not least, you should decide who you are going to go with. If you are taking an unfamiliar route on your hiking holiday, you should definitely consider taking someone, who knows the way. This might be a friend, or a specialized guide, who will charge you, but at least you will know that you will be completely safe with them. There are specialized agencies, which provide hiking holidays, and you should observe some possibilities with them in order to be sure that you find the right thing to suit your needs completely.

As a whole, you should carefully observe your possibilities for exciting hiking holiday (or as the Danes say “spændende vandreferie”). There are many things, which you should take into consideration before going on a trip, and if you are not sure as to how to proceed with preparations, it is highly advised that you find a good online guide to read some things. The mountains can be a dangerous place and if you do not have the knowledge required to go through the trip with ease, you should definitely choose another opportunity. Otherwise, you risk both your safety and the safety of the people with you at all times.

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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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Cruise ship with pool by Michael R Perry

Here are 4 reasons why you should go on a cruise for your holiday:

Prices: the prices are very reasonable and you can get all types of cruises available throughout the year. You can get amazing accommodation and entertainment on a cruise at prices as low as $ 150 a day. A variety of cuisines can be enjoyed and dinners are lavish and extravagant at low prices. If you are going to get some time off from work, you might as well spend a little money and enjoy yourself and take your family and friends with you, too. Do a little research and you can get amazing discounts and prices and enjoy extravagant cruises.

Getting pampered: throughout the year you have to go running through markets and shops, get home and cook and prepare your foods for yourself. You have to spend hours to ensure you have everything you need. Well, when on a cruise (or as the Danes call it krydstogt) you need not worry about that. The first-class services on cruises, regardless of the prices, are remarkable. You can spoil yourself by getting a comfortable massage or just sink into a Jacuzzi on board. If you are going to spend some money on going on a cruise, let them take care of you while you relax.

Activities: one can enjoy different activities when on a cruise. Go for swimming in the swimming pools on board. Live-a-board diving is very popular in certain parts of the world such as the Maldives. Live-a-board diving is an activity whereby divers dive off a ship at different points to enjoy the waters and the marine life. You can play golf at the dock or enjoy the casinos that some cruise ships offer. Enjoy other such relaxing activities with your family and friends when on board!

Satisfaction: you would definitely have a good time on a cruise enjoying different activities, spoiling yourself and going on cruises at a reasonable price. You can enjoy different and new horizons. Not much packing is required either and so you do not have to worry about losing any of your clothes or luggage. In addition to this you and your family would have a good, stress-free vacation on a cruise.

These are just some of the reasons you should go on a cruise for your holiday. If you want to get some peace of mind and have a good time, go on a cruise!

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Adam Jones

I think April will be a good time, before it gets too hot. The closest major city is Granada. I’ll be flying there, maybe with a break in Barcelona. Granada looks to be stunningly beautiful. I am staying two nights in the city and it will probably be in the Parador de Granada, although the Hotel Casa 1800 Granada is supposed to be very picturesque.

From Granada I could head by bus to Capileira, which is a small town that sits at the foot of Mulhacén, the tallest mountain in Spain. There is a Microbus service there. It takes travelers up the mountain on days with good weather. It’s actually becoming a rather popular tourist destination, so I’m not concerned about it being too isolated. I’d rather walk up the mountain, though. Apparently it’s not that difficult and doesn’t require any climbing equipment, just normal hiking gear.

I could take the bus to Beas de Granada (east of Granada). There is a fantastic one-way walk that leads back into the center of Granada. It’s supposed to be one of the best hiking experiences to be had in the Sierra Nevada. The route is about 30 kilometers atop a broad ridge, which might be a little long for me. I’ve also been warned to hike this path in May at the latest due to the heat.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Andrew Hurley

Another option is to travel in June or July. I could go from Granada to Trevélez (which is on the eastern side of Mulhacén) to climb the path to the Seven Lakes, but any earlier in the year and there’s too much snow. Most of the climb isn’t too difficult and I’ve heard that the waterfalls are amazing. It leads up to a place called the Seven Lakes (Siete Lagunas). I’m probably going to choose this one.

There’s actually quite a few other hikes, like a hard one called Vereda de la Estrella. I could also hike from Capileira to Trevélez, but not in winter. There’s so many choices!

One of the other great activities that you can do around the mountainous countryside of Spain is mountain biking. The hilly terrain and dry conditions lend themselves perfectly to this pursuit and there are no rules against doing this.

This article was written by John Davies who enjoys blogging for Thomson Al Fresco holidays. He has travelled around most of Europe, camping with his family most of the way and he enjoys nothing more than sharing his experiences with other bloggers and travellers alike through guest posts.

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