Cruise ship by Thomas Quine

The influencing factors

In addition to the above geographical factors, you might also have your personal reasons such as the summer holidays or escaping the cold chilling winters at home. Each of these answers would further influence which season is the best for sailing.

The cruise regions mostly have peak seasons, moderate demand seasons and seasons during which demands are the lowest. Earlier the peak season seemed to be the ideal time when the weather used to be at its best in certain regions. But with cruise turning out to be more of a family event, the summer months have now become the peak season period regardless of the weather around or back home. Prior bookings are encouraged for those of you who are looking to book a cruise in the peak time, as most cruises have a limit on the number of children per sail. Each ship would also have a limited number of cabins that would accommodate not more than the specified number of people.

The off seasons can yield some of the best bargains. With the off season being comparatively longer, it also serves as the ideal time for cruising for those who can make it at that time. Alaska and Bermuda have six to seven months of peak period and off season would be at the time of end of the peak season. Panama and Northern Europe, on the other hand, have peak season all the year round.

Below are some popular destinations and the right time to go there:

Alaska: June to August is considered the peak season. This is when the temperatures are at their warmest best. This comes with an added advantage of spotting wildlife too. But with popularity comes a hitch. Higher demands mean prior bookings, almost a year in advance. You might also be surprised to witness congestion in small towns. The low-season periods are May and September.

Australia: The ideal time to cruise in Australia would be from early December to March. This is when the climate is favourable. The least demand would be from May till September. But these being the rainy months carry high chances of cruise cancelation.

Europe: April up till October is the right time for an ideal Europe river cruise. With the spring in full bloom, you could be in for a pleasant surprise too. The low season, on the other hand, is the cold and bitter winter months.

Mediterranean: The best time to cruise here would be between May and September. Most cruises would offer a culture mix of travellers with a plenty of on-board events. Nearing September, you can even avoid the school crowd and still manage to enjoy the warm temperatures.

So, by carefully analyzing your idea of the perfect holiday on a cruise, you should be able to make a favourable choice.

Penny is an expert associated with Boating Hub, a company that provides training on boating. You can view courses at https://www.theboatinghub.com to make your choice.

The post Choosing the Perfect Season for Cruising appeared first on Europe Explored.

A tiny island off the coast of Sicily, Favignana is the largest one of Aegadian Islands, which also include Marettimo and Levanzo. Whilst Favignana was once prominently involved with tuna fishing and packing, it is now focussed on tourism. But you won’t find scores of people flocking to the white sand beaches with cool boxes in hand, like some other European holiday destinations; the island is relatively untouched by the cruel hands of mass tourism and remains a safe haven for those looking for some peace and quiet.

Cala Rossa, Favignana, Italy by rivaalessandro

Places to Stay

There are a variety of different hotels to stay in around the island and you can be sure a beautiful view of the azure sea is never far away. My two favourites are the Hotel Tempo di Mare and the Hotel Cave Bianche.

The Hotel Tempo di Mare is a four star, stunning white-walled hotel whose entranceway beautifully frames the crystalline waters. It is not a huge hotel and has around 45 rooms, each designed in a simple but chic way with white linens and hints of pale blue. There is a restaurant within the hotel which serves delicious Italian and Sicilian fusion food, using the mouth-wateringly plentiful frutti-di-mare.

The Cave Bianche is a little further away from the island’s main city, only around a 10-15 minute drive, and is set in an old mining quarry. This is a striking hotel unlike anything else in the world; submerged within a quarry with huge vaulted ceilings and characteristic pale sandstone walls. There is also a large pool and Jacuzzi’s not to mention plenty of sunbeds, so you can take advantage of the warming Mediterranean sun.

All in all both hotels are stunning and a real design feat, certainly eons better than what you would find on the Costa del Sol!

Church in Favignana, Sicily, Italy by giovanni.gambaro

Beaches

There are a number of beaches scattered throughout the island, the best has to be the gorgeous Lido Burrone and Cala Azzurra. Both of these beaches are around the south of the island and easily accessible by car or moped. The real thing that makes them special is the fact that the sea is so clear, and the sea beds are covered with luminous white sand stretching out from the coastline. This makes it easy to see all of the amazing sea-life around the area, including octopi, moray eels, crabs and jellyfish, although the majority of these will be found in deeper waters so you don’t have to worry about getting stung!

Sunset at Favignana, Sicily, Italy by payhere

How to get there?

I am from London and so one way I found to get there was flying from Heathrow to Palermo in Sicily which is only a short flight, then hire a car from Palermo to Trapani and then hop on a hydrofoil for around 20 minutes to then get to Favignana’s main port. If all this may seem a little too much, why not try a cruise and stay Caribbean cruise? They are run regularly by many operators and stop right alongside Sicily making it much easier for you to get to Favignana.

However you find it, Favignana is a real hidden gem, so why not discover it now before everybody else does?

The post Top 5 reasons why Favignana is the perfect place for your next holiday appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by Henry Burrows

So, you’ve finally decided and opted for a camping holiday in the UK. The next problem, the perfect tent; where is everyone going to sleep? With so many tents on the market it’s hard to know who to trust when they say that their tent is the best. One thing that you don’t want is to buy a tent and then find out that it’s not as waterproof as it was said to be. Here are the top dogs when it comes to family tents for more than 6.

1. The Outwell Montana 6

A superb family tent that sleeps at least six. The tent is a great design with three separate spacious rooms and a tunnel entrance. This means less clutter and more space for the family. One of the big bonus features of the tent is the three entrances; this is a benefit as it means that you can get great ventilation coming through and you can also keep the kids muddy trainers at one entrance so that they don’t have to walk them through the tent.  The tent has two linings and is made from a strong material meaning that it keeps out any rainfall, so it is 100% waterproof – a great advantage considering you can’t rely on British weather that often. The tent also comes with an add on porch should you need it; this space could be used as extra sleeping room for visitors or cooking etc. This tent is priced between £200- £300 but worth every penny.

2. Vango Tigris 800

The Vango Tigris 800 is the newest model in the Vango range and is a must have for any family. It can sleep up to 8 people and has been voted a favourite by families. The Vango Tigris has been voted so highly due to its four individual rooms and spacious walk ways reaching a height of 2 meters, making for a comfortable stay with a well-ventilated tent. The tent weighs 25 kg and can be assembled in around 15 minutes by two adults.

3. Soul Pad 500

Soul pad have been providing camping tents in the UK since 1990. Since then the company has grown to be one of the market leaders of family tents in the UK and across Europe.  The tent has a luxurious waterproof ground sheet sewn inside. The Soul Pad 500 comes in a bath tub style meaning regardless of how wet or muddy it is around you nothing will leak in, so it’s ideal to keep all the little ones warm and dry. There are four zipped windows on the tent and three vents at the top. All of these have a mosquito mesh fitted so that nothing can disturb your peaceful night sleep.

This guest post has been written by Arthur Jonas, a leading outdoor specialist. He recommends the general public to use Camping Tents from www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk when planning their summer trip away.

The post Finding Your Perfect Family Tent appeared first on Europe Explored.

The Great Outdoors

Chester Zoo

A great attraction all year around but with longer days and fairer weather, summer is the perfect time to take in some of the 8000 amazing animals. With the holidays also come some extra exhibitions. This summer the dinosaurs have returned and 19 life sized robot replicas of the terrible lizards will take visitors back 200 million years.

Jaguars at Chester Zoo, Manchester, UK by Mark Morleo

Canal Festival

Late August sees the Manchester Canal festival with plenty of outdoor activities near the water for all of the family to enjoy. With nature trails, arts workshops horse boat tours and the spectacle of a Float-In movie it’s a great excuse to take a trip down the Rochdale Canal.

The Manchester Picnic

While some food festivals are purely for the connoisseurs, this one invites all the family to enjoy the tasty treats on offer over a long August weekend. 16 gourmet street food traders from all around the world gather at Piccadilly Gardens to share their native cuisines that will inspire you to try some of the wonderful restaurants in Manchester. As well as the fantastic food there are also activities for children and live music on offer.

Rainy day outings

Manchester Museum

With an amazing array of exhibits from around the world over its four floors and 15 galleries, there is so much to explore. The special Unearthed: Ancient Egypt exhibition is perfect for children and they can gain and archaeology certificate by helping Professor Digby catalogue all of his finds in the Egyptologist’s storeroom.

National Football Museum

Football looms large in Manchester with the great rival between United and City. This museum explores the relationship football has with people through past and present. The museum features a series of exhibitions with displays on the world’s greatest players, the laws of the game, managers and stadiums there will be something to entertain any football fan.

Museum of Science and Industry

Located on the site of the world’s oldest remaining passenger railway station this museum tells the incredible story of Manchester’s industrial past. There is so much to learn about this city and its innovations in the past, present and future from the age of steam with locomotives to the space age in the planetarium.

Catherine Halsey writes for a digital marketing agency on a range of subjects. This article was written on behalf of Malmaison.

The post Summer Activities in Manchester | United Kingdom appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by admin

Book outside of school holidays

The best tip of them all has to be avoiding school holidays as the price of your holiday is likely to rise significantly. To get an idea of how much more it would cost to travel inside term time, when you are choosing a date for a flight scroll back to show earlier dates and see how much more you would have to pay. Travel companies are fully aware how much higher demand is in school holidays which is why they adjust their prices accordingly. However being retired you should normally have more weeks available when you are free to travel. Times to avoid are Easter, half terms and the summer holidays which run from the last week in July until the start if September. Granted this is peak time but if you are going somewhere where it is hot from April to October then it can make financial sense to avoid the school holidays.

Book in advance OR last minute

OK ill explain this one. With some holidays it benefits you to book as far in advance as possible for example if booking cheap flights to a popular European destination. If you know your holiday dates in advance (as most retired people will do) then it obviously makes sense to book early and save. However some holidays are best bought at the last minute as airlines and hotels will have seats and rooms that they need to fill. If you are flexible over your destination and dates then wait to see what last minute holiday deals become available. This used to be done using teletext but most now use the internet to find the latest offers. Of course there is no harm going into a good old fashioned travel agent and doing the same thing!

Use a credit card, not a debt card

The reason for this is that an increasing amount of card fraud is being committed against travellers abroad. If you use a debt card and someone clones your details they can potentially empty your bank account in one go, leaving your with no money whatsoever. However if you only use a credit card, although they can make fraudulent transactions you will see these when you receive your monthly bill which when allows you to inform your card company. In other words you wont have to pay for them and then try and recoupe the money. Some credit cards also provide insurance cover for purchases so that if you buy something abroad that either turns out to be faulty or is not delivered, you can reclaim the purchase amount through the card company’s insurance cover.

This article was produced by Simon who runs pension website Annuity City. Visit them for the top annuity rates on the market.

The post 3 great tips for retired travellers going abroad appeared first on Europe Explored.

1. Have Fun with your Friends

We would all like to spend more time with our friends but it’s not always possible because of the studies or your busy professional life. But you can catch up by spending your holidays with your friends, that way you’ll be able to spend as much time as possible with them.

Photo by Alex

In fact, you’ll be able to do all the activities you like to do together without having to think about something else. In addition, it is reported that it is easier for guys to seduce girls when they are in group, so if you’re single and hope to meet that special one then you can try that particular method.

2. Enjoy Some Interesting Discounts

In addition, whether you’re a small or a large group you will be able to enjoy some interesting group discounts when booking your tickets but also once you get to your holiday destination. In fact, you may have discounts when taking the bus but also when visiting some places.
Some restaurants and fast food also have interesting discounts for groups, so if you like tasting different cuisines then that’s a good reason why you should bring your buddies with you.

3. Save Money

Group holidays are a good way of saving money as all the fees are shared out between the members of the group, and the more a group is large the cheaper your contribution will be. The best example of this is trips organised by schools, in fact as most classes have at least 15 pupils, teachers calculate how much each pupil will give and that how they succeed in organising those kind of trips.

Photo by 401K 2012

So you can organise your holidays with your closest friends and if your group is not large enough you can ask your friends to bring their friends as well, that way you will all enjoy cost-effective holidays.

4. Group Accommodations

Concerning your accommodation booking a hotel is not the best solution as it can be extremely expensive especially if you want to stay there for more than a weekend. However, the best holiday accommodation for young holidaymakers is undoubtedly self-catering holiday cottages.

In fact, if all the members of the group give some money it will be quite cheap. In addition, holiday cottages are quite flexible as there will be room for all of you because even if you book a three room cottage and you are seven, you can split the group in two and some of you can sleep in the rooms while others will sleep in the living room.

Nadine Ryans writes about different subjects such as boutique hotel Brighton, Dartmouth self-catering and London orthodontists.

The post The Advantages of Group Holidays appeared first on Europe Explored.

Benidorm bay / Andrew Parnell

Beach lovers will find Spain holidays to be the safest bet for a summer sun, sea and sand holiday, with the Costa del Sol, Costa Dorada and Cost Brava lined with family friendly beach resorts with every facility you could wish for.

Cheap Benidorm holidays are a great choice for families, couples, singles – in fact, everyone who fancies some fun in the sun that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The main beach, Playa Levante, stretches out for over 2km and is home to over 5,000 sunloungers. This gives an indication of just how busy this beach gets in peak season.

It’s easy to see why this beach is so popular, as its facilities are second to non. A wide range of watersports are available for adults, as well as mobile magazine libraries for those who just want to kick back and relax. For little ones, several play areas have been built on the beach, as well as a wet play area, water slides and diving boards. Clean and safe (colourful picture boards help prevent children getting lost in the crowds), this beach is the pride of Benidorm, and a real treat for those booking Benidorm holidays.

Away from the beach Benidorm has plenty to offer. Spend a fun-filled day at the Terra Mitica theme park, or the Aqualandia waterpark. Or wander the Old Town to discover a different side of Benidorm.

If you can’t be persuaded that Benidorm is for you, why not try family friendly Salou or lively Torremolinos instead? Or the quieter resort of Benalmadena? You’ll be spoilt for choice when choosing summer holidays to Spain as it’s the place to be for fun in the sun this summer.

View Larger Map

The post Spain: Cheap Benidorm Holidays and More appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Cayetano

The name means ‘sunny coast’ and it’s those long, sunny days and scorching temperatures (well into the mid-40s Celsius on some days) that provide the attraction for millions of visitors each year. Located along the Mediterranean in Andalusia, this area has been a major tourist draw since the 1950s.

Popular Costa del Sol Destinations

Andalusia enjoys the second largest share of tourist traffic among Spain’s autonomous communities which is no surprise as it’s one of the warmest and sunniest places in Europe. Some of the most popular areas include Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Estepona and Marbella. These – and the many other coastal cities – provide a variety of activities for visitors. Many of the towns are linked by a coastal rail line, making it easy to sample the variety of this coast. Estepona stands out for its 325 days of annual sunshine and two Blue Flag beaches. Torremolinos is the place to go to find the largest number of British expats and the beaches in Fuengirola are so popular that you will have trouble finding a free spot in the height of summer.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Gert Mewes

What to Do in Andalusia

As well as the usual assortment of restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs, this area offers castles, cathedrals, forts and monasteries. The Alcazaba in Malaga, the Alhambra in Granada and the Giralda and Alcazar in Seville are worth visiting. Andalusia has a wide variety of other attractions. The birthplace of Velasquez and Picasso, it has a number of museums and art collections on show. Of these, one of the most important is the Malaga Museum of Modern Art. It’s also possible to see craft, ceramics and jewellery made by the region’s artisans. Andalusia is also a great place for those interested in architecture, as everything from Moorish/Islamic architecture to Renaissance, Baroque and more modern styles are on display. Walk around Malaga city centre and you will suddenly find yourself on distinctive and beautiful tiles or face to face with a beautiful building. And of course, depending on where you are, a visit to Gibraltar can make a nice day trip.

There’s so much to see and do in this area that its popularity is no surprise. If you have ever visited the Costa del Sol or Andalusia, be sure to share your favourite attractions in the comments.

Marian Jaime enjoys visiting the Costa del Sol. She uses Suntransfers’ Malaga airport taxis to get to her resort.

View An Introduction to the Costa del Sol Spain in a larger map

The post An Introduction to the Costa del Sol | Spain appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Will

In fact, many people who went on holiday in places like Thailand often complain about their accommodations. That’s why you should be careful when you book your hotel room or any other accommodation on the Internet, as some hotel managers put some beautiful pictures on their website that are far from reality. In addition, if you’re disappointed with your booked accommodation there’s no guarantee of getting your money back.

In order, to avoid that kind of rip off some people choose to go and spend their holidays in places that were recommended to them by friends. For instance, many British people spend their holidays in Majorca for its stunning beaches and vibrant night life. Therefore, if you’d like to go there,you can ask your friends if some of them have already been there and thus they will be able to give you some tips on the places to go and also those that you should avoid. However, if none of your friends have been there, don’t forget that the world has become a global village, therefore you can still try to find some information from your Facebook friends. In fact, some might be able to give you some valuable information.

You can also avoid summer rip-offs by going to places where tourist rights are protected by the authorities, and this is the case for all EU countries. However, as people say there’s no place like home! In fact, you can also look for good places to go in the UK. For instance Scotland is a good place to spend your family holidays.

For those who like bathing in the sun you can go down to the South of England in Devon for instance, as Devon is full of lovely places to visit especially in the city of Dartmouth. In fact, whether you’re a group of friends, a family or even a couple you will have great fun in Dartmouth. There are a lot activities ranging from attractions, river and sea activities, shopping and so on. In addition, you don’t need to worry about accommodation as you can book one of the lovely Dartmouth holiday cottages.

Dartmouth cottages are known for their great comfort and the great location. However, if you’re still tempted to go and spend your holidays abroad, then be very careful of the different rip-offs of the holiday industry.

The post How To Avoid Summer Holiday Rip-Offs appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo by admin

One of the most popular places to go camping in the EU is France. The whole country is set up to welcome campers, whether they are in cars and caravans, campervans or simply with a tent in the boot of the car or attached to their backpack.

Pretty every much commune will have a campsite somewhere and these will often be a ‘camping municipal’ meaning that they are owned and maintained by the local commune (or council). Although this kind of campsite doesn’t have a big swimming pool and entertainment programme, they are always scrupulously clean and well maintained. It is such a vast contrast to many campsites in the UK.

The commercial campsites in France also make a great choice – especially if you have children who are confident enough to go and join in with the entertainment provided. Once you set up your site and introduce the children to the ‘animateurs’ who run the entertainment programmes, you might not see them except for mealtimes and bedtime!

Where to go
Camping near to the Dune du Pyla is a great place to spend a summer week. You have easy access to the beach, and most of the campsites are set in the shady pine forests that are just behind the beaches and dunes. This way you have the best of both worlds – beautiful sunny beaches, yet a shaded place to camp, so that at the end of the day you don’t have to go into a baking hot tent or mobile home.

If you’re a single traveller or a couple, then the most economic option is to take the car and throw your sleeping bags and tent in the boot, so that you can go where you want, but only need to pay the site fees for a tent rather than a caravan or the cost of hiring one of the fixed mobile homes that campsites hire out. Of course, the other option is to hire one of the fixed tents that the campsites also have on offer – far superior to anything that will fit in the back of a car! It really depends on how long you want to stay in one particular place or whether you prefer a holiday on the road.

About the author of this article:
Steve is a camping enthusiast who enjoys taking off for the weekend with his mates and their fully loaded rucksacks.

The post Camping in France – where to go appeared first on Europe Explored.