Photo by Mike Cattell

This diversity is also reflected in the range of accommodation options that are available. As you might expect, there are hotels of all shapes and sizes across the country, from independently owned seaside palaces to international chains that are familiar to all. In addition to the hotels, there is an enormous number of self-catering properties to be found in all regions of this beautiful nation.

One of the more intriguing options, however, is one that most overseas visitors rarely consider, despite the fact that it has become something of an institution to UK-based travellers. The traditional British guest house offers travellers a comfortable room in a more homely location, and is generally far cheaper than a conventional hotel, a fact that comes as very welcome news to those who are on a tight budget.

Head to the seashore

Guest houses have been around for many years in the UK, and are especially common in seaside towns. Over the decades, a large number of British people have stayed in them, enjoying extremely affordable holidays in the process. Although the number of guest houses in Britain has dropped in recent times, there are still a great many to be found in places like Blackpool, Scarborough and Brighton.

One constant you’ll find in almost all of them is the opportunity to start the day with a traditional fried breakfast. Even if you wake up feeling as though you’re not hungry at all, the aroma of sizzling sausages and crispy bacon will soon have your taste buds tingling with anticipation. Not many guest houses offer an evening meal, but in the morning it’s a different story altogether.

Visitors to London have the widest choice of accommodation options of all, and although there aren’t many guest houses in the centre of the city there are some in the outlying suburbs. The extensive rail, tube and bus networks ensure tourists who stay away from the middle of the capital can still get to the major attractions and landmarks in no time at all.

Jamie Anderson works for http://www.anycarhire.co.uk/ and is a big fan of the British guest house.

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For 2012, 14 best beach awards have landed on the shores of the island. Isle of Wight beaches to be recognised for the coveted Blue Flag (which represents water quality as well as the overall cleanliness and good maintenance of the beach) include Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor. The three championship beaches also secured Quality Coast awards, which are offered by the venerable Keep Britain Tidy scheme as a recognition of litter-free sand and pebbles.

Ventnor Beach, England, UK by Andreas Trepte

Colwell; Springvale; Cowes and East Cowes; Gurnard; Yaverland; and Totland join the multi-award winning three as other proud recipients of the Quality Coast award.

The award winning beaches cover most of the island’s coast and most of the places frequently visited by tourists. Local authorities and businesses inspect the beaches on a daily basis to make sure they are clean and safe, and have implemented a set of guidelines for safe use of the Isle of Wight’s beaches, intended to help beach users get the most from the environment without spoiling it for themselves or for others.

For crab hunting, rock pool hunting or just sitting down on the sand and quietly contemplating the sea, Bembridge’s beaches are just the ticket. The town boasts a number of quiet bays, filled with either sand, pebble or shell. While they are close to busy waters (they overlook the Solent), the beaches themselves are quiet and endearing. They are popular with families who like to scramble around the tidal reach, collecting shells and gazing into the mysteries of the ocean creatures who live there!

For a quiet family stay, the west coast of the island is where it’s at. Here smaller beaches mean fewer people, and many of the sandy coves are tucked away so discreetly that they can get overlooked altogether. Queen of the quiet beaches, Colwell bay is a small sandy bay, and offers pleasant lunches in one or two cafes. The clear water attracts families who come to investigate the life below the waves.

Compton bay, Isle of Wight, England, UK by JimChampion

For more action and adventure, surfers of all stripes tend to head over to Compton bay. A beach break working at all stages of the tide, Compton benefits from brisk winds, which power the sailed craft with ease. Also, Compton is a great place to go fossil hunting – at low tide you can see fossilised dinosaur footprints in the rocks at the edges of the bay.

Freshwater is another excellent family beach, which enjoys shelter from a small headland. Freshwater is well served with cafes and also enjoys proximity to the local golf course.

Author Bio:

The author along with the family live on the Isle of Wight since 2004 and owns Wight Locations, a self-catering holiday cottage company with holiday properties across the Island. With a keen love for the Island, the author writes about the experiences and about the best things to do when visiting.

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In Madeira you can find several worlds at one place, despite its seemingly small area. Beautiful green mountain, partly similar to South America. The seaside towns offer breathtaking views of the wide blue ocean. Madeira has unlimited number of natural resources. In the wild nature you can see orchids, Strelicies and other exotic flowers. The flowers can be seen at each step in Madeira and their beauty and fragrance caress the soul of every man.

Irrigation canals are built around the whole island (in total length of 2000 km), along which you can easy walk and hike the island.

For the lovers of nature and mountains Madeira is an ideal place for active recreation. Of course, for the lovers of bathing it is a land of rest, but do not try to find the extensive beaches.

Best travel tips in Madeira – Interesting tips for travel around Madeira, that you should not miss.

Porto Santo
Madeira consists of two main islands, Madeira and Porto Santo but also includes the Desertas and the Savage Islands. In Porto Santo you can find beautiful long beach with golden sand, so this could be a paradise for swimmers.

The city of Funchal
Do not miss the capital city of Madeira – Funchal. Beautiful historic center, picturesque streets, Funchal’s bay and Botanical Gardens definitely worth seeing.

Mountains and inland
Inland of Madeira will enchant you with its magnificent mountain peaks, rising from the ocean to the heavens. The highest peak is Paul da Serra located in region of Santana. Its elevation is 1,862 meters above the sea level.

Festivals and celebrations in Madeira

Madeira held four distinct and major festivals.

Carnival
Carnival takes place in late February. Streets change to the rhythm of Brazilian samba for four days and four nights. Masks, music, dance and happy mood are everywhere in the city streets.

Flower Festival
Flower Festival is held in late April or early May (two weeks after Easter). The whole city of Funchal is decorated with flowers. On Saturday children’s parade takes place when each child bears a flower and put it into the hole in the “Wall of Hope” on the square Praça do Município.

Wine Festival
Wine festival is held in early September in honor of the grape harvest in several villages.

New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve, like in other countries is to celebrate the end of the year. It belongs to the largest ones. If you want to see an amazing fireworks just over the ocean, do not wait and book your hotel in advance.

View Madeira – explore beautiful nature in Pearl of the Atlantic Portugal in a larger map

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