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 flight deals in 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, apartment accommodation in Sydney is 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 holidays 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...)

Dubai apartments are available on rental for short term or long term stay. Whether you are doing some job or going for a vocational trip in Dubai, there will be many rental options available for your stay. Before taking an apartment on rent, you need to check out facilities available in it. Some apartments are furnished well and have comparatively higher rents. Most of rental apartments have basic amenities, such as kitchen, sofa, TV etc.

UAE has hot weather and it gets too scorching during summers. You should always go for a centrally AC apartment to become comfortable. Make a checklist of all requirements you want to have in your apartment and let your agent know about it. They can make you get a good apartment only if they are aware of your expectations from it. Many Dubai holidays have recreational facilities like swimming pools, gym, sauna & steam, jogging parks and other places. You can look forward to such places to lead a good lifestyle.

There are many people who prefer to rent a hotel room to stay. It can be expensive to stay for longer periods in hotels and hence, apartments are chosen for a comfortable and affordable stay. Your family members and specially kids can enjoy more by staying at an independent apartment. There are many deals available on Internet and you can get pictures of those apartments to view its looks. (more...)

Renting a Holiday Home with Hot Tub in Scotland has its benefits. The fact is that as soon as you enter into a hot tub relaxation kicks in. You automatically enter into a place of no return especially if you are in a hot tub with your partner or spouse. Laughter, conversation and affection will follow naturally amidst the soap, foam and bubbles.

The majority of us spend our lives working hard. This eventually takes a toll on our body increasing our stress and tension levels. Spending at least thirty minutes in a hot tub can greatly decrease our tension and stress level. The warm water loosens up our tightened muscles, reduces our blood pressure, and relieves ongoing pains. This happens because the warm water increases the temperature of our blood which relieves the pain as it flows throughout our body.

Did you know that time spent in hot tubs can help you to sleep better? Many cottages and holiday homes in Scotland have private hot tubs which will allow you to take a dip in the evening before heading off to bed. This is advisable because the hot water will increase your body temperature so by bed time, your body temperature will have further to fall than usual thus allowing you to fall into a deep sleep. (more...)

If you are planning an expensive trip today, that need not break your travel budget, and as you will discover there are numerous affordable travel packages offered by different travel agencies on the internet. Many people can now access high-speed internet, which makes booking flights online easy. For instance, when you want to book Iberia with ebookers the experience will be very easy if you compare to booking a flight using conventional methods.

The internet has had a huge impact on travel, and any person can now afford to take a trip at reduced costs. Today the most common way of booking a cheap flight is by doing it on the internet, and a traveller can now easily match their budget with the cost of an airline ticket. There are so many websites offering travel booking that one would be lost for choice when looking for the best deals. This becomes an invaluable resource for booking family vacations. Apart from this advantage, the websites also keep you updated on the latest deals and inform their customers of any travel alerts and or advisories.

Numerous websites are offering this service and you can get more information on travel, booking flights and even vacation packages that include hotel bookings, tours all at a bargain price. Happy travellers talk about their experiences, which is very helpful in assisting someone make a decision before they book their vacation or flight. (more...)

Travelling is always fun especially when you are visiting a certain place for the very first time in your life. It depends on a number of things and one basic factor is the mode of transport. It may be a cruise ship, train, air, or by road but any way will do as long as one is enjoying every moment of the trip. One of the most amazing ways to enjoy is by going on a safari in an adventurous setting.

A safari holiday can be great fun when the place to be visited has what it takes to make the holiday worthwhile. When the word safari is mentioned, wild animals and game parks come to mind. Imagine driving in the wild viewing and taking photos and videos of animals you’ve only seen in documentaries, sleeping in tents in the vicinity of these wild animals?

It is breath-taking but it takes a lot of preparation. One cannot enjoy unless they have put everything in place. Such holidays are not for meditation purposes but rather leisure and adventure. They are perfectly ideal for family holidays and also camping sessions as they need a number of participants to make them far more enjoyable. However, they can be a perfect get-away for a romantic holiday too as there is certainly the power of romance in nature. (more...)