Tenerife’s capital city hosts the popular Carnival every February, with a different main theme picked year-on-year. Recent themes have included horror movies, pirates, Hollywood musicals, and magic. The variety of themes ensures a new and unique experience at every visit, with the planning period for the weekend’s main festivities far-reaching.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain by Prefeitura de Olinda / License: Creative Commons

Floats and dance routines are planned months in advance; this is by no means an improvised mess – Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a celebration which would more accurately be described as organised chaos and genuine excitement for the exotic exuberance such a celebration brings. The official Carnival contains meticulously planned flair and routine, while the street Carnival is based around the everyday revelers joining in with their own celebrations and costumes. The streets are awash with colour as homemade costumes come out to join the festivities in whichever way they seem fit.

While the Carnival is widely viewed as a weekend event, there are in fact many events on the days building up to the weekend as well as in the days after. The party in fact continues up to the beginning of Lent – with Shrove Tuesday marking the official end of the Carnival, with a sardine-themed day following on Ash Wednesday – an experience which has to be seen to be believed!

The party atmosphere explodes onto the streets in a flash of colour and music, drawing visitors from the world over. Inhibitions are let go as revelers celebrate over many days. Whether you want to visit the officially organised events or go wild at the street carnival, the party continues long into every night and resumes the next morning with renewed enthusiasm.

The Carnival Queen is the undisputed star of the entire event, with the prestigious honour handed out to the most beautiful of the year’s contestants on the Wednesday before Carnival weekend. She becomes the icon of the year’s festival, representing the island and all Carnival related activities. Voting and campaigning for the position of Carnival Queen begins well in advance of the festivities, with the contestants usually acquiring sponsorship from large corporations in order to promote their candidacy. Dresses can weigh on average up to 200lb and stand at over 20ft tall, making them extremely difficult to wear and expensive to make. The coronation is broadcast for the entire country to enjoy live, with a panel of judges and a text vote determining the winner.

For those who want to experience the Carnival atmosphere but do not wish to make the arduous journey to Brazil, the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife provides the perfect alternative. Once you experience the non-stop partying the locals of Santa Cruz provide with open arms for tourists, you might just find yourself a regular visitor.

Fernando Navas is a native to the Canary Islands and always returns home for Carnival.  He recommends experiencing the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife at least once and searching for cheap holidays to Tenerife to provides the perfect party opportunity.

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Norfolk Broads, UK by Russell Smith

But of course, this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Millions of travellers prefer to find locations which offer a more tranquil way of life, surrounded by beautiful scenery and with plenty of peace and quiet thrown in. For them, one of the most welcoming destinations of all is located in Eastern England, and it remains one of those places in which time appears to have, if not stood still, been meandering along in a sedate manner for many decades.

The Norfolk Broads isn’t a hidden gem or a closely-guarded secret, it’s a vibrant and extremely popular tourist destination that attracts visitors from all over the world. It’s a location that is something of a rarity in the modern world; somewhere which offers tourists all the up to date facilities that contribute to a wonderful holiday, but in a quiet and understated way that underlines something that East Anglian people have known for centuries – that life is not a race.

Smell the flowers, taste the coffee, enjoy the scenery

Dotted throughout the area are picturesque villages and hamlets that would not look out of place on a chocolate box, and which have changed little over the passing years. The Broads themselves are waterways that provide boat-users with a golden opportunity to soak up some truly spectacular scenery at a pleasantly slow place. Locations such as Horning and Ranworth are stunning, and have become popular bases for tourists from across the globe.

The local pubs and restaurants offer visitors an old-fashioned warm welcome from the moment they arrive. There are plenty to choose from, providing a wonderful selection of Norfolk beers and of course a superb choice of freshly-cooked food. Cromer, a town that’s on the coast to the north of the region, is famous all over the world for the quality of its crab, so be sure to give it a try.

As you might expect from an area that’s well-known for its slow pace, driving around the Norfolk Broads isn’t suitable for boy racers. The roads are fine and allow for easy passage between locations, but you should expect to take it at a leisurely rate. After all, there is some wonderful scenery to take in along the way and, of course, it really isn’t a race!

David Showell is a regular visitor to the Norfolk Broads. He works for www.carhiredirect.co.uk

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alquiler de Coches

Sand and Sea

Albufeira features over 25 of the most beautiful beaches in all of Europe.  The gorgeous sands and sea are set against a backdrop of beautiful, dramatic cliffs.  In addition to sunbathing and swimming, there is parasailing, kayaking, plenty of jet ski and boat rentals, boat tours to go out and enjoy the scenery and maybe even watch dolphins play, and several wonderful diving schools.  If you fancy, you can even book a trip on the “pirate ship” Leaozhino and enjoy a sailing experience like no other.

Cycling and Hiking

With challenging courses and trails, Albufeira is a great place for cyclists and hikers alike.  Nowhere else on Earth will you find trails like these combine with such beautiful scenery as your backdrop.  Enjoy mountain biking through the rocky terrain of the cliffs surrounding Albufeira, or take one of the guided bike tours throughout the old town for a unique sightseeing experience.

Golfing

Albufeira features six world class golf courses to choose from, making it an excellent destination for a golf getaway.  Perfect your shot with the blue sea and old town villages as your backdrop.  If you are a less experienced golfer, lessons are offered by skilled and friendly pros.

Nightlife and Dining

Whether you are a young adult or just young at heart, Albufeira has an active and vibrant night life.  The strip is the main party street in Albufeira.  Lined with a multitude of bars, dance clubs, and restaurants, it is where you should seek out if you are looking for a lively and entertaining night out on the town.  It can actually be quite economical if you are looking to have drinks on a budget, as the proximity of one bar to the other allows you to bounce from happy hour to happy hour.

Whether on the strip or in Old Town, the dining in Albufeira is both delicious and affordable.  Don’t make the mistake of shying away from the street grills.  You will them to have delicious chicken and absolutely fabulous fresh fish.  If that just isn’t your cup of tea, there are a multitude of restaurants featuring everything from Chinese to Indian food, as well as some higher scale steak houses and some “posh” dining experiences as well.

Historic Sightseeing

Visit the winding cobblestone streets of Old Town and admire the Arabic style buildings and friendly people of the original town center, which still retains the essence of the village it has always been.  Visit museums, galleries, and castles as well.    One of Albufeira’s landmarks is the castle wall, the remains of one of the towers of the castle that crumbled to dust in the 1755 earthquake.  Another beautiful landmark to behold is the famous Clock Tower of Albufeira.  Adorned with an iron crown, the tower was built in the 19th century and rings out the hours dutifully.  It’s a must see for sightseers.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Albufeira regardless of your age and interests.  I strongly encourage you to give it a visit the next time you go on holiday.

Albufeira is an amazing holiday destination and what better place to stay than in Albufeira apartments?  Visit the Owner’s Direct website and take a look at some of the best the region has to offer.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by amaianos

Lagos

Known for its abundant nightlife and young crowd, Lagos has a reputation as a bit of a party town, but there is more to it than just the vibrant party atmosphere.  The stunning coves and beautiful, sweeping beaches attract surfers in to catch the amazing waves and then hit the clubs and bars when the sun goes down.  Picturesque homes and cobblestone streets, along with a rich history, are a must for sightseers, and Lagos is known for being an excellent destination for backpackers as well.

Tavira

Tavira is referred to as the Venice of Portugal, thanks to the Rio Gilao running through its center and the elegance of the homes and buildings within.  That’s not all that Tavira has to offer for those seeking beauty and history in architecture, there are castle ruins, 37 churches, and a multitude of 16th-18th century buildings to be seen.  Finally, the Igreja da Misericordia, a renaissance monument built in the 1540s, is a must see with its striking arched, carved doorway that is topped with magnificent statues.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cayetano

Monchique

This gorgeous town is centered in Serra de Monchique, Algarve’s forested mountain range.  It’s a nice contrast to the coastal regions that the Algarve is known for.  It is known to be a great region for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling, but it also features lesser known but no less rewarding experiences in hidden spas and a private zoo for endangered species.  It really is a great region to visit if you are looking for a more laid back and relaxing experience in the Algarve.

Silves

Silves’ two biggest attractions are the Castle and the Museu Municipal de Arqueologia.  The Castle, restored in 1835, has a fantastic view over the town and nearby countryside.  As you walk around its sandstone walls, you can see the site’s Roman past in the unfinished archaeological digs throughout.  The Castle is believed to have been built in the 11th century, and shows evidence of its Moorish occupation with its deep well and water cistern.

The Museu Municipal de Arqueologia was founded after a Moorish well, over three times as deep as the one in the Castle, was discovered, along with numerous archaeological sites in the area.  The museum displays pieces from prehistoric, Roman, and Moorish times, and has one glass wall that displays a supporting fort wall of the building.

Faro

Located on the southernmost end of the Algarve, the Faro is a great place to visit if you are looking for entertainment and nightlife, with a little sightseeing and history thrown in.  If you are a younger traveler, the Rua do Prior features multiple bars and clubs with students from the area keeping them going every night, especially on weekends.  The Taverna da Se is an in-crowd bar that you will also find to be going strong every night of the week.  If you are looking for a more low key bar, A Capelinha is a beautiful outdoor bar centered around a fountain where you can enjoy excellent sangria while browsing the internet on the computers they have supplied.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Greg Pye

As to the entertainment aspect, you can find drama, music, and dance at the Teatro Lethes, a building that was built in 1603 and adapted into a theater in 1874.  If football is your thing, Faro has its own team, the SC Farense, and you can catch one of their games at the 30,000 seat Estadio Intermunicipal do Algarve.

Finally, if you want to do some sightseeing, be sure and check out the Se.  The Se was finished in 1251 on the site of a former Roman temple and Visigoth cathedral.  It features several of the old chapels and gate, as well as beautiful tile work, a baroque organ, and beautiful carvings.  You also can climb on to the rooftop and get a magnificent view of the surrounding town and countryside.

As you can see, no matter what kind of holiday you have planned, the Algarve has something to accommodate you.  The Algarve villas are amongst the best type of holiday accommodation available in the region and the Owner’s Direct website has a lot for you to choose from.

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