I have travelled extensively alone, as a female, both for business and pleasure and I can honestly say that it has not been as daunting as you might expect.

As a lone female traveller, you do have to be more careful and you do have to take precautions, but there is no reason why you should not be safe in Rome City Apartments hotels in Moscow or studios in the Czech Republic.

In fact I have felt safer in many countries which are often perceived as difficult places for lone female travellers and apart from one incident in Paris many years ago where I felt a little threatened, I have been treated with the utmost courtesy and respect. (more...)

If you have ever thought of travelling to Australia, now is the time to go for it. There have never been so many domestic flights Australia and you can find some real bargains. The only downside to a trip there is that there are so many places you will want to visit that you will never be able to fit it all in in one holiday!

On the South West side you have the delights of Perth and the gorgeous white beaches along that stretch of the coast. Then there is the remote and breath-taking scenery to be found at Kimberly in the North West and the old pearl fishing town of Broome.

If you prefer to find out more about native Australia, visit the Top End in the North, where you will find Kakadu National Park with its amazing nature and aboriginal art. Then there is Queensland, famous for the Great Barrier Reef and the luxury beach resorts dotted along the coast. (more...)

If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, Italy, then there are certain "must see" places that one should visit.

Planning your trip and your places to stay is all important. Maybe you want to be in the city, or maybe you want to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of the Tuscan countryside.

Of course Florence is the capital of Tuscany and for the first time visitor, probably on top of the list. With a wealth of museums and beautiful architecture you will be spoilt for choice! Pisa and the leaning tower are world famous, perhaps climb the tower and visit the baptistry when you fly in. (Pisa airport is the most likely airport that you may use). Lucca is a walled town near to Pisa and well worth a visit, with it's cobbled streets, museums, churches, piazzas and good choice of shops, along with numerous cafes and bars to quench your summer thirst. Lucca is close to the hills, where you can find many a restful place to stay after your explorations. Passo a Sella is one such place, situated just over half an hours drive away from Lucca it is ideally placed to explore! (more...)

Dubai has been on the hot list of favourites for some years now and its popularity shows no sign of waning. There are some incredible places to stay in this amazing city, from the inexpensive apartments and budget hotels through to luxurious and fanciful hotels.

Dubai hotels are in a class of their own. Where else could you stay in a hotel in the tallest building in the world, the Armani in the Burj al Khalifa, or the most luxurious hotel in the world, the Burj al Arab?

The hotels in Dubai literally try to outdo each other in the facilities they offer and the incredible designs. You have magical hotels, such as Atlantis, with water parks built on a man-made island; and hotels like the Madinat with Arab souk markets and water canals complete with gondoliers. (more...)

Australia is the most popular long-distance destination for tourists from the UK. As you might expect, nearby countries like Spain and France are the top spots. But did you know that over 700,000 UK residents travel Down Under each year? Why is Australia so popular?

It could be because it was a former colony of the United Kingdom or because the official language is English or because it is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. But whatever the reason, Australia is the dream vacation for many people in the UK. And Sydney is the single most popular city.

With an enormous international airport and a growing immigrant population, Sydney is the gateway to Australia for millions of international guests. About three million of them arrived in 2009. Though tourism has fallen off a bit in the wake of the global recession, furnished houses to rent in Sydney are still a hot commodity. (more...)

There are wide discrepancies when it comes to paid holidays in countries that belong to the European Union. Finland offers 39 days of total leave, which includes annual leave and public holidays. At the other end of the spectrum, the UK (tied with the Netherlands) offers just 28 paid days off each year!

Unfortunately, workers in the UK haven't been able to take proper holidays due to the economic slowdown. Outgoing flights have fallen by nearly ten percent as most tourists settle for something called a staycation. The word staycation is a neologism and a portmanteau word. It simply means going on holiday at home to save money.

Since the basic rule of travel has always been the farther you go, the more you spend, taking a trip in the UK is a good option for cash-strapped citizens. But just because they're cheaper, doesn't mean that they have to be dull. In fact, very cheap holidays are often more memorable and special than luxury tours. Where should you go? (more...)

UK residents are planning much cheaper holidays in the wake of the economic recession. Many of them simply stay at home, while others visit nearby countries. As one of the most affordable overseas options, ferry companies that cross the English Channel have been working overtime of late.

With just 24 miles between England and France, boats that ply the waters of the Dover Straights are the most popular and least expensive a tourist can find. Not to mention the fact that the trip only takes about an hour and a half.

At last count, there were three major ferry lines that go back and forth between Dover and Calais. There is even a ferry that takes the slightly longer route between Dover and Dunkirk. Which is the best for Bargain Holidays? We aren't in the habit of plugging one particular company, but due to the poor economy, we'll make an exception. While ferry prices are fairly consistent, the SeaFrance ferries that travel between Dover and Calais appear to be the most affordable. (more...)

More than 43 million international guests arrived in Italy in 2009, making it the fifth most visited country on earth. Like most European countries, Italy experienced a decline in tourism in the wake of the global economic recession. One area where guests can save money is on travel in Italy.

We are speaking of course about the train system. Because Italy is home to a number of world-famous cities, most guests visit a few of them when on holiday. As you might expect, taking plane rides from Rome to Venice to Florence and Milan can really add up. Fortunately, Italy has affordable and efficient trains.

Most tourists like to start in a popular city like Rome and then travel north by train to many famous northern cities. Florence, Pisa, Milan, and Venice are all in northern Italy. Best of all, they are not too far apart. The train ride from Florence to Pisa, for example, is only about an hour long. What about Vacation Rentals in Italy? (more...)

Going on holiday in Spain is up to forty percent cheaper than it was last year, according to a report by the Holiday Costs Barometer. The group that tracks the prices of popular tourist destinations found that prices have crashed in many of the top spots for guests from the UK.

Spain and Portugal led the pack with Holiday villas in Spain going for unheard of prices. The decline has been attributed almost entirely to the housing crisis in both countries. Spain in particular has not yet recovered from the unprecedented declines of 2008 and 2009. The housing market has experienced sales declines of up to 50 percent in some regions.

As a result, housing prices have plummeted and once popular resort areas are finding it extremely difficult to sell homes to foreigners. Along with France, Spain is the most popular vacation spot for tourists from the UK. Hundreds of thousands of residents actually own vacation homes in these countries. (more...)

The global recession had a profound effect on the tourism industry in Portugal. International arrivals declined by 8.7 percent, as millions of guests from the UK took holidays at home. The timing couldn't have been worse for a country that was mired in one of the worst housing crisis in recent memory.

Between 2008 and 2009, housing prices in Spain and Portugal plummeted by more than 30 percent. Popular tourist regions like Catalonia reported a drop in sales of over 40 percent. Due to decreased demand, the value of home prices also fell. Is now the time to Buy property in the Algarve? Sales numbers have been rising for most of 2010 and most industry insiders believe that the crisis is over. But because of lingering doubts, prices remain at depressed levels. The average buyer can find a home in Spain and Portugal for twenty percent less than he could have in 2007.

One encouraging trend that points to better days ahead is the return of tourists to Iberia. The Board of Tourism recently reported that internal arrivals have been on the rise for five consecutive months. Fortunately, this had not had an effect on prices. (more...)

If you are among those people who are considering moving abroad for better weather or retirement purposes, then it may be worth your while to read on in this little article.

Firstly, many people decide to just sell up and go. Whilst this is admirable, it is perhaps not the logical choice and certainly not the only option available. Far better, would be to rent a property in the country that you intend to live in first. For example, if you are planning on moving to Spain, then look into long term villa rentals in Spain. This will give you a taste of living in Spain, without the major financial commitment.

Another option, is to spend some time travelling the country that you wish to emigrate to. Again, taking Spain as our example, you may have in mind moving to the Costa Brava, but why? Perhaps it was because you had a good holiday there. Spend some time travelling around Spain, and you will find some wonderful villages and coastal towns that are well off the traditional tourist and ex-pat track. (more...)

Going on a golf holiday is the perfect choice to break free from your hectic work schedule. In order to enjoy your golf holiday, you need to choose a city that is perfect for golf holidays. In my experience, Dubai is a fabulous city to go on a golf holiday due to its luscious green landscapes and its well-maintained golf courses.

There are a number of golf resorts located in Dubai that offer great golfing amenities and services. Many of them are located near popular beaches and landmarks which makes it possible for you to visit these places after your golfing activities. Based on the fact that most golf resorts are open 24/7 and have good lighting to facilitate golf playing at night, you are free to play anytime you want to.

You will be supplied with all of the golfing equipment that you need and with experienced caddies who will be able to cater to all of your golfing requirements and needs. Both men and women are able to enjoy Dubai golf holidays as well as children. Many golf resorts in Dubai have golf courses for children allowing parents who would like to teach their children to golf to do so. They also arrange tournaments for men as well as women, so if you are confident of your golfing skills, you can feel free to take part in the tournaments. (more...)

Dubai is a bustling vacation destination full of intrigue and adventure. As a part of the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is indeed an Arab country. It is very multi-cultural and diverse, making it a popular tourist destination.

Among the Dubai vacation accommodation options are hotels, vacation homes or holiday villas. For a romantic rendezvous, some accommodations are waterfront or offer stunning views of the ocean. Villas are larger and good for groups. Villas offer privacy and economy. Be sure to select a hotel or villa with a pool so you can cool off after a long day in the hot sun!

With its beautiful crystal blue water and hot weather, winter is the perfect time to travel to Dubai. With temperatures hovering around 20-25 degrees Celsius, Dubai is a true escape for those in colder regions. Summertime can be unbearable, with temperatures topping 50 degrees. (more...)