Europe Explored » relaxation https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Six Reasons Why Menorca is the Best of the Balearics | Spain https://europeexplored.com/2012/11/15/six-reasons-why-menorca-is-the-best-of-the-balearics-spain/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/11/15/six-reasons-why-menorca-is-the-best-of-the-balearics-spain/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:06:06 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=12167 The Balearic Islands have long been a popular holiday destination for British travellers. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the Balearics are blessed with good weather and located within easy reach of the UK, which makes them a fabulous holiday hotspot all year round. The four main islands, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, attract tens of […]

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The Balearic Islands have long been a popular holiday destination for British travellers. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, the Balearics are blessed with good weather and located within easy reach of the UK, which makes them a fabulous holiday hotspot all year round.

The four main islands, Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera, attract tens of thousands of families, couples and singles every year.  Ibiza has a reputation as a ‘party island’ and Majorca is top choice for families and golfers.

Menorca is not as commercially developed and is smaller, but it does have plenty to offer and because of its reputation for being unspoilt, many consider the island of Menorca to be far and away the best of the Balearics.

Son Xoriguer, Menorca, Spain
Son Xoriguer, Menorca, Spain by Freebird

6 Great Reasons to Visit Menorca This Year

Relaxation

Unlike its sister island, Ibiza, a week spent in Menorca will not involve falling out of thumping bars and clubs as the sun rises, rather worse for wear after sinking twenty-five shots of Jaeger bomb.  Although not quite as unspoilt as Formentera, Menorca still has a reputation for being the quieter island, which makes it perfect for anyone who prefers chilling out as opposed to dancing the night away and unlike Formentera, there are still plenty of other things to do if the mood takes you.

Beaches

Menorca is blessed with more than its fair share of beaches and with more than two hundred beaches dotted around the coast to choose from, sun-seekers come to the island for the opportunity to lie in the hot Mediterranean sun, far from the madding crowds typically found on the crowded sands of Majorca and Ibiza.  All of the beaches on Menorca are worth visiting, but one of the best beaches on the island is Cala Pregonda.  A stunning stretch of sand in the protected north of the island, Cala Pregonda is easily accessible by foot and although the beach lacks any modern facilities such as cafes and restaurants, it more than makes up for this with its idyllic location.  It does however attract nudists, so be warned: clothing is entirely optional!

Menorca coastline, Spain
Menorca coastline, Spain by Freebird

Dramatic Coastline

Menorca is famous for its rugged coastline and the towering limestone cliffs bordered by spectacular sandy beaches are stunningly beautiful.  The northern half of the island is the most dramatic and the section of coast between Punta Nati and Cala Carbó is particularly beautiful; the limestone cliffs loom over small coves and red sandy beaches, creating an idyllic setting.  To the east, the famous lighthouse of Cavalleria sits atop the highest cliffs on the island, which afford some spectacular views.

Culture

Menorca has a lot more to offer than fabulous beaches and perfect weather and keen historians will be able to spend their entire holiday exploring ancient stone monuments dating back to 2000 BC.  Many of the ancient settlements on the island are highly accessible.  Talatí del Dalt is only 4 km from the capital of Menorca, Maó and is well worth a visit; as is the capital, Maó, which has some fine examples of Georgian architecture dating back to the 18th century.

Talatí del Dalt, Menorca, Spain
Talatí del Dalt, Menorca, Spain by David Font Mampel

Explore the Island on Foot

Menorca is relatively small compared to Majorca and Ibiza and thanks to the completion of a coastal pathway, known as the Camí de Cavalls, it is possible to circumnavigate a large part of the island on foot if you are feeling energetic.

The Camí de Cavalls is divided up into handy sections, each of which are about 10km long and of varying terrain.  The path is well signposted and is also suitable for mountain bikers and horse riders.  There are also a large number of other scenic footpaths along old bridleways and tracks snaking through the countryside, and even during the height of summer, it is possible to head out for a peaceful walk without seeing meeting any traffic or other people.

Back to Nature

Thanks to its plethora of important flowers, plants and animals, Menorca is a UNESCO classified biosphere reserve.

The island is great for bird watching and if you are lucky you could catch a glimpse of red kites, booted eagles, Egyptian vultures, peregrines, warblers and even osprey. The best place for watching birds is the S’Albufera des Grau Park, which is a short trip from Maó; there are several walking trails meandering through the wetlands, plus a few bird watching hides interspersed around.

If you have been looking for somewhere amazing to spend your holidays Menorca is a fantastic choice!

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The Importance Of Travel Insurance https://europeexplored.com/2012/08/10/the-importance-of-travel-insurance/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/08/10/the-importance-of-travel-insurance/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2012 08:34:15 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=10519 Holidays should be a time of relaxation filled with happy memories, they should not be a stressful ordeal- which is what a holiday can turn into if you have an accident and do not have travel insurance to fall back on. After all, you wouldn’t go on holiday leaving your passport or tickets at home, […]

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Holidays should be a time of relaxation filled with happy memories, they should not be a stressful ordeal- which is what a holiday can turn into if you have an accident and do not have travel insurance to fall back on. After all, you wouldn’t go on holiday leaving your passport or tickets at home, so why should you jet off without travel insurance?

Swimming pool in Spain
Photo by admin

Why Do I Need Travel Insurance?

Travel insurance is designed to cover you in the event of conventional incidents such as an accident or emergency and illnesses. It also offers great protection from other circumstances including:

  • Cancellation of a holiday due to a family emergency
  • Your airline goes bust as you are due to travel with them
  • Your luggage containing important medicine is lost and you need an emergency prescription filled
  • You lose your passport/wallet and need emergency cash and a replacement passport in order to return home
  • A natural disaster occurs and you are evacuated from your hotel or accommodation
  • A terrorist attack happens in the place you are due to travel to and you wish to cancel

Of course all of the above is subject to the level of cover stated in your travel insurance policy, but this is what a comprehensive policy can cover you from.

How To Choose Travel Insurance

It is only natural to want to get the best value for money when buying travel insurance, but it is also vital to ensure that you take out a suitable policy that will protect you from any circumstances possible during your holiday.

If you are planning on going on an unconventional holiday or you’re going travelling in many countries for a long time, you may need a specialist travel insurance policy to provide adequate protection- you do not want to find that your claim is unsuccessful and you could have easily taken out the right policy if you had just researched another minute or two.

In this case, there are very specialist travel insurance policies available such as: backpackers’ insurance, family travel insurance, winter sports travel insurance, adventure travel insurance, older travellers insurance, business travel insurance to name just a few.

Other Advice

If you are a UK resident travelling to Europe you can apply for an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for free! The card entitles you to free treatment at state run hospitals in Europe and a number of other countries (Iceland & Norway for example). This is a good starting point but it does not provide complete travel protection in Europe so you may need to take out further insurance to guarantee effective cover for your holiday.

Cost are online comparison experts in the fields of insurance, money, travel and utilities.

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AquaCity Zalaegerszeg – huge water park in Hungary https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/15/aquacity-zalaegerszeg-huge-water-park-in-hungary/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/15/aquacity-zalaegerszeg-huge-water-park-in-hungary/#comments Sun, 15 May 2011 12:17:06 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=3846 AquaCity Zalaegerszeg is a huge water park located in Hungary. It is situated in the western part of the country, in the city of Zalaegerszeg. AquaCity Zalaegerszeg has a swimming pool with waves like in the sea and covers the total area of 1100 m2. The water temperature is 25-27°C and the depth from 0 […]

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AquaCity Zalaegerszeg is a huge water park located in Hungary. It is situated in the western part of the country, in the city of Zalaegerszeg.

AquaCity Zalaegerszeg has a swimming pool with waves like in the sea and covers the total area of 1100 m2. The water temperature is 25-27°C and the depth from 0 to 180 cm. Other attractions, for the more daring ones, include jumping pool with a depth of 2-4 meters. In the AquaCity Zalaegerszeg there is also 300 m long slow river suitable for relaxing. The depth of water in this river is 100 cm and the temperature is around 25 – 27 °C.

For the active athletes there is an irregular pool covering an area of 1500 m2 with a depth of 0-150 cm. For the youngest is ready 30-55 cm deep paddling pool with lots of entertainment in the form of slides and fountains. For older children there is a pool with a depth of 0-90 cm and water temperature 28-30 °C. The most popular water attractions of AquaCity Zalaegerszeg are eight long slide, including Twister, Kamikaze, Multi, Anaconda and a Black hole.

For the rest and relaxation there are available pools with Jacuzzi massage, with a depth of 103 cm and a pleasant temperature of 38 °C. AquaCity Zalaegerszeg also boasts sports facilities, playground and lots of refreshments.

Basic Admission is 3,500 ft. It is possible to apply the family and group discounts. It is open from June to August in the time range between 10:00 to 20:00. Many other interesting information can be found on the official website of AquaCity Zalaegerszeg.


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Windsor Castle in England – the longest-occupied castle in Europe https://europeexplored.com/2011/03/09/windsor-castle-in-england-the-longest-occupied-castle-in-europe/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/03/09/windsor-castle-in-england-the-longest-occupied-castle-in-europe/#comments Wed, 09 Mar 2011 09:15:30 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=2807 Windsor Castle is the medieval castle and the oldest royal residence in Great Britain. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, about 10km west of London. Windsor Castle dates from the 11th century. Originally it was built of wood by William the Conqueror in 1070, as the protection of western routes into […]

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Windsor Castle is the medieval castle and the oldest royal residence in Great Britain. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, about 10km west of London.

Windsor Castle dates from the 11th century. Originally it was built of wood by William the Conqueror in 1070, as the protection of western routes into London. Over time, Windsor Castle has been rebuilt several times. Most buildings were built during the reign of King Henry II. and Edward III.

In the 20th of the 19th century King Henry IV. adjusted some of the buildings. In 1992, Windsor Castle suffered a devastating fire which broke out during the maintenance work in the ceremonial chambers. Today, the area is restored again.

The oldest building, which boasts the Windsor Castle is the wooden Round Tower, built by William the Conqueror. In 1170 the tower was rebuilt to a stone one, and remained so until now. In the Round Tower there is now a royal archive and photographic collection.

Probably the biggest gem of Windsor Castle is St George’s Chapel, built between 1475 – 1528, in which are the remains of 10 kings. St George’s Chapel is one of the finest examples of late Gothic style in England.

Windsor Castle is now the main residence of the Queen and her family, but it is also open to the public and is a very popular tourist destination. The length of the guided tours in interiors depends on the presence of the royal family in the castle. For safety, all the visitors have to pass the inspection. Windsor castle offers the tours every hour, but most visitors are viewing the site separately with audio-visual guides that are available for free.

Windsor Castle has, just like any major office, its own guards, that change regularly, which is also very popular attraction. The visitors are also attracted by the beautiful adjacent park suitable for relaxation after a demanding tour of the castle.

Windsor Castle is a real gem and certainly worth seeing.


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Thermal water park in Štúrovo, Slovakia https://europeexplored.com/2010/06/21/thermal-water-sturovo-in-slovakia/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/06/21/thermal-water-sturovo-in-slovakia/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 08:52:18 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=159 Štúrovo is primarily a spa town. Thermal water park and recreation complex VADAŠ THERMAL*** is popular even abroad. With its daily capacity of 12,500 visitors, well-maintained pools of different sizes, indoor swimming pools, restaurants and the sport possibilities, offers ideal conditions for relaxation to all of sun and water lovers. In the swimming complex you […]

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Štúrovo is primarily a spa town. Thermal water park and recreation complex VADAŠ THERMAL*** is popular even abroad. With its daily capacity of 12,500 visitors, well-maintained pools of different sizes, indoor swimming pools, restaurants and the sport possibilities, offers ideal conditions for relaxation to all of sun and water lovers.

In the swimming complex you can find 7 external and 2 sheltered swimming pools, including a massage pool, external all-year sitting pool and a unique swimming pool with artificial waves, the only one in Slovakia, a Lagoon of 3800 m2.

Pools are supplied with thermal water from the depth of 130 m with a temperature of 39 °C.

The town Štúrovo is famous for its tolerance. The people coexist peacefully for centuries on the territory that is full of members of different nationalities and religions. This diversity gives the city a special atmosphere.


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