European Travel Magazine - March 2014

Issue 2 November 2013

Issue 7 March 2014

EuropeanTravel Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE

Manchester Airport Guide

Split - Croatia

Top Florence Hotels

TOP 5 STAG & HEN DO DESTINATIONS the very best places in the europe to celebrate a stag or hen party. PARIS CITY GUIDE Popular with visitors looking for a weekend getaway. TIPS FOR PACKING LIGHT There’s a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport. NEW GOLD HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS Alternative golfing destinations working hard to catch up.

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“Have you ever sat in an airport for way too long waiting for your next flight? We are two Europeloving travelers who make the most of every moment, whether that be a five hour layover in Lisbon or three weeks in Croatia.

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On June 9, 2014 we take the trip of a life time, touching down in Stockholm, Sweden to hit 15 countries in four months with a tent, a backpack and a lot of desire to see this amazing world we live in!

We started thinking about how two travelers on a major budget could utilize their time and t-Minus Countdownmoney and visit as many countries as we could. And it hit us: LAYOVERS. But we don’t want to just pass through these places. We want to feel the grass beneath our feet and the salt in our hair. We want to meet new people and explore new cultures. We travel to experience life as something that deserves more than a 40 year desk job. We can’t live to be locked up in one city, but rather rich with the memories of

countries. We want to see places until we are full of their spirit and life and move on to soak up more. We want to lie under stars and swim in every sea and tell these stories one day to our eager grandchildren.

But how can we really see these places? That’s where we need the help of the readers, the travelers, the wanderlusters, the backpackers, and the locals. If you are a traveler or a local in the areas we are stopping in, come explore with us! Be our guides and show us around to the best pubs or street food!

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CONTENTS

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4 How Lanzarote Became The Island It Is Today If you’re heading off on your Mediterranean family holidays, Turkey is more than likely to be one of your first choices. The ubiquitous trio of sun, sea and sand are obviously the biggest draw cards, but Turkey has a lot more to offer than that.

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The Best Places For Your Stag Or Hen Party

Tips for Packing and Traveling Lite

Split, Croatia – The Ultimate Travel Destination

Are you organizing a stag or hen party, but don’t know where to go? We compiled this top 5 with the very best places in the europe to celebrate a stag or hen party.

In this day & age of travelling cephalalgia, there’s a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport.

Split has actually progressed into a well-established resort and cultural town, appreciated by many throughout the Europe.

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Manchester Airport Guide

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Top Florence Hotels

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Visit Ljubljana

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A Travel Guide To Paris

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Altinkum Turkey

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New Golf Holiday Destinations

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How Lanzarote Became The Island It Is Today

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Visitors to Lanzarote, the second biggest of the main Canary Islands, may be forgiven for thinking that the island has been a holiday destination for many years, but the reality is very different. Until as recently as 1980 the island was relatively unknown to international travellers. The geographic history of the island is of course dominated by volcanic activity, which caused the creation of the island in the first place.

The island, which has been part of Spain since the fifteenth century, owes its location off the North African coast to most of the significant events in its history. It has been subjected to many attacks and invasions over the years, primarily from seafaring pirates who came across the island during their voyages from the coasts of Africa.

The now extinct indigenous population of the island, known as the Guanches, were cave dwellers who lived and isolated existence, whose civilisation was far removed and delayed compared to that of many mainland population groups. Lanzarote was one of the first island of the Canary Islands group to succumb to the Spanish invasion early in the fifteenth century, but it took almost 100 years before the final island, Tenerife, was finally occupied.

The origin of the name Lanzarote is still not known for sure with various theories proposed including a derivation of a visiting Italian seafarer called Lancelloto or Lancilloto, a variation of the Latin word for rubber (the Tabaiba tree, common on the island, produces a thick resin like sap) and also after the original Spanish invader, Bethencourt, who is supposed to have broken (rota) a lance (lanza) during the original battles for the island.

Volcanic activity had featured frequently over the years of the island’s history including a six year period in the eighteenth century when 25 volcanoes erupted together turning a once fertile area into a barren landscape of black lava, which is now known as the Timanfaya National Park. The volcanic activity has brought some benefits however particularly to agriculture and the island now growing onions, potatoes, spinach and pineapples for export.

Picon, the black volcanic rock that covers much of the island, is very good at absorbing moisture and thus makes farm a little easier on this warm sunny island.

But the biggest impact on Lanzarote has been the huge growth in tourism to island over the past 30 years. The authorities on the island have tried very hard to reduce the visual impact by enforcing strict rules on developments meaning that there are no

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high rise buildings, every building must be painted white and doors, windows and shutters may only be painted in one of two approved colours of green.

In terms of tourism, Lanzarote only really became known during the 1970’s and during the years between 1970 and 1975 visitor figures tripled to 80,000 per year. Figures doubled again over the next five years and during the same period financial investment from Germany arrived due to the Strauss Law which provided tax benefits for German company investing in Spain.

Growth continued during the 1980’s and 1990’s until visitor figures reached their peak in 2003 when almost 2 million people came to the island for a holiday. British people make up the majority of the island’s visitors, the make up of which is very influenced by the local currency. An impact of the introduction of the Euro has been the rapid decline in the number of German tourists, who now find holidays on the island to be more expensive. It remains to be seen if the weakness of the British pound will have a similar long term effect on the number of British holidaymakers but initial indications already show that in December 2007 numbers of British visitors were down by twenty five per cent.

One factor that could influence matters is the weakening of property prices on the island with suggestions that values now stand at only 60 per cent of their peak. That is unlikely to attract new British home buyers due to the currency situation but it could be a factor in tempting German buyers to return.

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The Best Places For Your Stag Or Hen Party

Are you organizing a stag or hen party, but don’t know where to go? We compiled this top 5 with the very best places in the europe to celebrate a stag or hen party.

Barcelona A perfect destination for a stag or hen party is Barcelona. This cultural and sunny city had loads of activities to celebrate a lovely stag or hen party weekend!

A great way to start the weekend for the ladies is with some Salsa or Flamenco dancing classes. These classes are offered throughout the city. After some dancing it’s time for some tapas. Barcelona has many good tapas restaurants and also a lot of good tapas cooking courses… So whether you would like to create your own tapas or just enjoy a great tapas dinner made by a chef, Barcelona has enough to offer… Other popular girlie activities are wine tasting and off course shopping.

For men Barcelona also has loads to offer.

They could start their weekend with a treasure hunt a la Pirates of the Caribbean or go kayaking and explore the beautiful Costa Brava! The beach of the Costa Brava is perfect for a nice barbecue. Also great are the football packages to Barcelona’s popular football stadium Camp Nou. Going out in Barcelona is spectacular for everyone. It has many trendy clubs to party until the early hours. For a special night like a stag or hen party . you should arrange VIP club entrance, which can be arranged in many clubs.

Amsterdam Amsterdam is also a great city for a stag or a hen party. You could start in the

top 4 with the very best places in the europe to celebrate a stag or hen party

party .

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famous Dutch wooden shoes; “klompen” or something else that’s typically Dutch: make Dutch cheese. The city is also renowned for its endless shopping streets and beer tasting. Amsterdam has restaurants for everyone’s taste. Whether it is Indian, Argentinean, Thai or a Dutch pancake house, it’s all there. The restaurants of hotel Okura are famous for their magnificent cuisine.

In the evening you should visit a brown café, this are small, cosy café’s.

London London really is a city that never sleeps and so a great place for a stag or hen evening. A great way to get ready for this evening for the girls is to visit Space NK. Space NK has luxury make-up and has stores throughout London. Here you can arrange lovely make-up parties. You can also opt for the Beyoncé’s Single Ladies dance class.

In this class you will learn how to dance like Beyoncé and it will sure be a lot of fun. London has many good restaurants from fish and chips until Japanese, so it is great for everyone’s taste.

A glamorous way of getting to the club is by limousine, this can be easily arranged because there are many limousine hire companies in the city. London has several big clubs but if you prefer to go for beers in the pubs then London is also the perfect place for you party.

Berlin Berlin is known as the party capital of Europe and

therefore the perfect place for a stag or hen party.

Your clothes for the day are typical German Lederhosen for the guys and the Dirndl for the girls (which is a typical German dress).

Experience the city by taking the Beer Bike through the streets of Berlin. This Beer Bike is actually a riding bar, where you can sit on with your friends and enjoy German beers.

A great evening for the guys would be in Berlin’s massive casino “Spielbank Berlin” on the Potsdamer Platz. This is a casino with four floors and it offers a wide selection of games.

A yummy activity for the ladies is a cocktail class in one of Berlin’s trendy clubs.

Riga Riga is experiencing a new Renaissance as the capital of Latvia, and many large-scale restoration projects on old buildings have made Riga one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Most famously, Riga is home to the largest concentration of Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) architecture in the world. Riga has become an increasingly popular destination for Europeans drawn by its old town, its historical importance, and its reputation as having one of the most sparkling nightlife scenes in Europe.

The areas usually most interesting to tourists are the Old Town and the area around the Freedom Monument, located nearby.

Riga is a major nightlife destination for tourists and bars here are often open later than those in other European cities

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T ips for Packing and T raveling L ite

In this day & age of travelling cephalalgia, there’s a few packing tactics to employ. To cut out an extra thirty to forty minutes at the arriving airport, start with packing small luggage.

Since carry-ons can not exceed a linear dimension of 45 inches, you can escape the fiasco of the baggage terminal by basically packing & travelling light. To learn how to pack all your needs into two suitcase, read more.

Make a list. Compose a pack list.

Be sure to coordinate shirts & blouses with bottoms. To maximize your travelling wardrobe fashion savoir faire, stick with solids & versatile basics. Rule-out any clothes that do not match other items.

Use the following pithy packing tips to make your travel light: Gear up. How to make an aweinspiring impression out of a basic or mundane outfit? For the most glam appeal, accessorize with a vibrant tie (for him) or a florid scarf (for her). Multihued accessories can liven up just about any attire.

Roll ‘em up please. The best way to fit all your clothes is by rolling pants & shirts. First fold each item in half. Then basically roll. To try to maintain any creases, start on the bulkiest end of the news story of clothing.

Employ shoe smarts. For men, any leather rubber-soled shoes

can make the day & night transition, easy. For woman, a pair of flip-flops, strappy sandals & comfy wedges can serve all casual - chic dressing needs.

Minimize bulk. After you check for space, edit outfits - ruthlessly. Try to pack microfibers with wrinkle & stain free comfort.

With most of your attire, stay in the same color scheme - in case you have to layer up for warmth.

Put under garments on the top.

To reduce the embarrassment of under garments becoming the side show attraction of the open luggage scan, place all panties in a plastic bag free of any clippers, lighters or other questionable paraphernalia. For expedient security review, place the transparent bag on top of your other items so security can access the bag without ruining your efficient packing method.

Lose Extra Baggage. Leave the heavy travel guide at home.

Duplicate important resources to keep your luggage free of extra pounds. Since most hotels & resorts provide irons & blow-dryers --leave yours at home for light travel.

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S plit, C roatia – T he U ltimate T ravel D estination Split has actually progressed into a wellestablished resort and cultural town, appreciated by many throughout the Europe.

The history of Split is carved out in walls, squares and ports, monasteries, and churches, a testament to the rough past of the Split people and offering its visitors a special mix of Mediterranean climate and centuries-old heritage. The Old Town is the pedestrianized heart of Split, a relaxed seaside destination steeped in history.

Enter the Split Fish Market to discover an remarkable choice of ‘riba’, which is the Croatian word for merely anything that can be caught in the sea. The volume of the marketplace is quite excellent. Why not try to cook the delicious black shells called ‘dagnje’ ! Another Croatian specialty is ‘lignja’, the squid, which is used as the crucial ingredients for the preparation of the black risotto. Or, if you do prefer fish, then you can not go wrong on ‘orada’, the gilt-head bream. Such fish will cost you multiply more when served in restaurants.

While you might want to remain on a budget while in Split, you will need to perform a great deal of research and be incredibly sure of the place you want to rent. On the other hand you can just book one of the boutique hotels in Split, and rest assured your journey will be a satisfaction. One of my favorite boutique hotels in all of Europe is Palace Judita Hotel. It’s a stylish and fantastic little place located in the heart of Split.

Recommended hotels in Split: 1. HOTEL VESTIBUL PALACE & VILLA The Hotel Vestibul Palace offers a conve-

nient 24-hour reception as well as a business centre, a concierge and a safe.

2. HOTEL JADRAN, SPLIT Featuring air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi, Hotel Jadran is located by the Adriatic Sea, a 10-minute walk from the Old Town of Split.

3. HOTEL SLAVIJA Located within the historic walls of the UNESCO-protected Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Hotel Slavija offers free internet, a 24-hour reception, and air-conditioned rooms with satellite TV. All hotels and resorts have very exact descriptions and photo galleries, and they are also very well described by their rating stars, however how to find a decent holiday apartment when there is so little information? Most people renting accommodation in Split are personal property owners and they have well maintained apartments by the sea or in the countryside. These apartments and studioapartments can differ from standard to luxury ones, but if you’re looking for a really exclusive experience of Split, then you absolutely need to book accommodation in a Mediterranean stone house. If you don’t seem like spending your vacations in a stone home, find a modern-day villa which follows all latest innovation trends, enjoy in its poolside and a view at the sea.

It is a good idea to make your reservations in advance. For details of available hotels and apartments in Split please visit www.split-rentals.co.uk/en/

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manchester A irport G uide

The airport is 17 kilometers southwest of the centre of Manchester.

There are two runways and three terminals. Just like Schiphol, there are roll bands or rolling sidewalks at this airport. It is the third busiest airport in Great Britain, after the London airports Heathrow Airport and GatwickAirport. In 2006 Manchester Airport processed 22 million passengers.

Local Transport Train The airport has a combined bus and train station that is called ‘The Station’, many trains from the north of England and the

Contact Address Manchester Airport PLC Manchester M90 1QX Great Britain Telephone: +44(0)161 489 3000 Fax: +44(0)161 489 3813 Email: n/a Airport codes IATA airport code: MAN ICAO airport code: EGCC

Midlands come to the station.

Other destinations are accessible from Manchester Piccadilly in the city center. There are plans to put in a monorail between the airport and Piccadilly, at the moment this route is still used by regular service trains.

Car and Bus The airport is along the M56 highway (exit 5) that connects to the ring road around Manchester (M60, exit 4). The routes to the various terminals are clearly indicated on the traffic signs.

Bus line 43 leaves every 10 minutes to the center of Manchester, this is an express service. There are many other bus lines that have connections between the airport and Manchester, there are also long distance buses from National Express to places including London, Blackpool and Aberdeen.

Express buses leave from both terminals to London, but the main station is on the ground floor of Terminal South, most buses go from Terminal North to London.

There are ticket offices in the Arrivals Hall of both terminals for bus tickets.

Car rental – Manchester Airport In every terminal there are counters for car rental companies: Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Taxi Taxis are in front of all terminals.

For destinations in Manchester

and the surrounding area, meters are used. For other destinations, fixed rates are given on signs.

Airport Parking There are garages for short-term parking at all terminals. For each stay longer than six hours you are better to park your car in the long-term parking area.

Services Shops and Restaurants Manchester Airport has a large range of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants in all terminals.

Baggage There is a window for lost and found in each terminal.

The service counters in both terminals are staffed 24 hours, the personnel speak several languages.

Business Business facilities are available

I t is the third busie st a ir p o r t in Great Br it a in , af ter the Lo ndo n a ir po r t s Heat h row Air p o r t a n d G at w ick Air por t. I n 2006 M a n c h ester Air p o r t p ro ces s e d 22 millio n pa ssen gers.

in the Atlantic Suite and in the Radisson SAS Hotel. There are offices and meeting rooms to rent and also conference halls for up to a maximum of 400 people. The Ringway Suite in Terminal 2 has rooms that are particularly suitable for small symposiums, for up to 30 people. The Escape Lounge has telephone, fax, copy and internet facilities.

Disabled facilities The airport is very accessible for the disabled. There are wheelchair ramps, adapted elevators, restrooms and telephones in all terminals. For the hearing impaired there is an induction loop.

There are many employees at the airport that are trained in sign language. In the parking garages there are reserved places for the disabled.

Other services There are banks, money exThere are money exchange offices and ATM’s in all terminals, there is a

post office in Terminal 1. Medical services are available. Manchester Airport is a popular airport for airplane spotters, there is a special “Viewing Park”, there are not only taking off and landing airplanes to see, but also old planes including a Concorde from British Airways, you can see all airplanes from the inside.

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Top Floren ce Hote l s H otel D iplomat - F iren z e 4 * Just a 10-minute walk from Florence Cathedral, Hotel Diplomat is in the historic centre, near Santa Maria Novella Train Station.

Rooms come with free Wi-Fi, and an international breakfast is served in a spacious hall.

The Diplomat offers modern rooms with private bathroom, satellite TV and air conditioning. Some rooms enjoy views of the rooftops of Florence.

H otel R elais il C estello 3 * Hotel Relais Il Cestello is located in Piazza del Cestello, next to the Cestello Church, and enjoys unforgettable views of River Arno. Rooms have wooden furniture and free Wi-Fi. Rooms at Il Cestello overlook the Borgo Ognissanti area. You will be a short walk from Florence’s famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. Breakfast is served in the Cestello’ main hall, next to an ancient fire place.

S tan z e del D avid P lace B & B The rooms of David are a luxurious setting based on a personalized and exclusive idea of hospitality. It will be an integral part of your Florentine experience, and will make it intense and satisfying the discovery of the infinite beauty of the city. The rooms of David aren’t the classic Hotel but, an oasis that focuses on the concept of freedom and privacy of guest.

B E S T W E S T E R N P ala z z o O gnissanti n / a In the heart of Florence’s old city centre the BEST WESTERN Palazzo Ognissanti is a completely renovated 4 stars hotel that combines elegance and modernity. The common areas, as well as the rooms, are warm and comfortable, studied to let our clients feel at their ease. It is located in an important 19th century building. on the corner between Borgo Ognissanti and via Maso Finiguerra.

E UROP E AN T RAV E L M AGAZIN E H otel E mma 2 * Hotel emma is a comfortable two-star hotel located in an elegant area within walking distance from the city centre. It is the owners themselves who run this place, so that you can enjoy your stay in a warm, friendly and homely atmosphere and then go out to discover a splendid city full of artistic treasures.

H ilton F lorence M etropole 4 * Enjoy modern luxury at the Hilton Florence Metropole hotel, 20 minutes by free shuttle to Florence’s attractions. Savor Tuscan cuisine at Luci Della Città restaurant or sip cocktails in the Lounge Bar. The hotel has 2 meeting rooms for 5-500 and is 2.5 miles/4km from Florence International Airport. Hop on our free shuttle bus to the best attractions.

HOTEL LAURUS AL DUOMO 4* At this Best Western hotel you can enjoy breakfast up on the roof terrace with panoramic views across Florence’s historic centre. It is just 200 metres from Florence Cathedral.

Best Western Laurus Al Duomo is set next to Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Florence’s oldest churches. It is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Santa Maria Novella Train Station.

G rand H otel C avour 4 * Grand Hotel Cavour has a rooftop terrace with views over Florence Cathedral. It offers a grand entrance hall with free Wi-Fi, marble floors and statues, and elegant rooms with air conditioning.

The Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio are both less than one kilometre from the Grand Hotel Cavour. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is just a few steps away.

N H A nglo A merican 4 * NH Anglo American is 800 metres from Santa Maria Novella Train Station and a 15-minute walk from Florence city centre. It features stylish décor with antique furniture and 19th-century paintings.

The rooms have a refined and intimate atmosphere. They include a TV with satellite, a minibar, and a private bathroom with hairdryer.

Free Wi-Fi is available.

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V isit L j ubl j ana , a beauty in C entral E urope Ljubljana is a tourist friendly city. It attracts tourists from all over the world every year.

Visit Ljubljana, a beauty in Central Europe

Slovene basin from where roads lead to the East Alps, Northern Adriatic and Ljubljana is a tourist friend- Panonian Plain. The city ly city. It attracts tourists area has been settled for from all over the world over 3000 years. Durevery year. Ljubljana is well ing the Stone Age people visited because of friendly settled on the shore of the locals, extraordinary culiLjubljansko Barje (Ljubljana nary experience and quality Marshes). The city was also accommodation. There are Roman military camp in the many accommodation op5th century. Ljubljana was tions. The average visitor first mentioned as a town stays in Ljubljana hotels. in the 13th century. The They are well kept and usu- growth of the city began ally offer Wellness & Spa. with the railway in 1849.

After the Second World War The city sits in the central Ljubljana became the most

important city in Slovenia.

It became the capital of Slovenia in 1991.

Ljubljana has a rich historical and cultural heritage.

The city has a lot to offer; a number of museums, theatres, opera house, botanical garden and zoo, etc. It is one of the youngest European capitals.

Ljubljana is closely linked to nature. Visitors can enjoy in walking through Tivoli park or hiking to Roznik Hill. Ljubljana is a city that will stay in visitor`s heart forever.

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A T ravel G uide To Paris Paris is quite possibly the best place in the World to shop for top quality fashion.

The Champs Elysee is the main shopping area.

Paris is France’s capital city and is located in the north of the country on the River Seine. The city is known for its romantic charm and atmosphere with gorgeous outdoor cafés, the scent of freshly baked croissants filling the area and stunning residents that are clothed in the most stylish fashions.

Paris has a great history that is felt when within the city. The city also possesses amazing architecture, style and atmosphere that make being there a pleasurable experience.

Traveling There Paris has a couple of airports that make flying there an easy option. It is also linked with excellent road and rail services. Euroline buses run constantly to and from the city in all directions. Ferries cross over from the UK to nearby ports for those who are looking to take there own car.

must book well in advance as the city gets busy with visitors, especially during fashion shows.

Eating & Drinking All of France is renowned for its cuisine and wines.

Paris is one of the best places in the country to go out to restaurants.

Parisians take their food seriously and tend to eat two sit-down meals a day.

Restaurants, cafés and bars are found just about everywhere in Paris so you will always find something for your taste.

History The city of Paris dates back to more than 2,000 years ago when it was first built.

It developed into a metropolis after it was overruled by Julius Caesar in 52 BC. The city is linked to the French Revolution that saw the killing of thousands of people. Although Paris has a somewhat violent history, these days the city is a charming place to visit where many people fall in love in its wonderful atmosphere.

Accommodation As Paris is such a large and popular city there is every type of accommodation available to suit all budgets.

The only problem with acSights and Must Sees commodation is that you

Paris is known for its magnificent architecture layout.

If th interests you be sure to visit Sacré Coeur Basilica. It is located on the butte of Montmartre and provides wonderful views of the city. Also visit the Arch de Triomphe and the cathedrals of Notre Dame and Saint Denis as these are also very impressive to look at.

The city has many art features that are worth a visit if that is your interest.

There is also plenty to do in the ways of excursions within and away from the city as well as a relaxing cruise up the River Seine.

Shops Paris is quite possibly the best place in the World to shop for top quality fashion. The Champs Elysee is the main shopping area. It has huge shopping malls, perfumeries and entertainment venues. It is possible to find almost any designer brand in Paris. The city has a number of flea markets that offer a nice alternative to the main high street shops.

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A ltinkum T urkey Turkey has many beautiful resorts along the Aegean coast. Altinkum is one such small resort town on the shores of the Aegean Sea; it is only 90 minutes transfer from Bodrum Airport. The town has got its name after the golden sand on its beaches. Altinkum means “golden sands�. The magnificent beaches of golden sand gently shelving into the shimmering turquoise blue water of the Aegean Sea is an enchanting sight. Altinkum resort has three beaches.

The main beach has plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas for basking on the beach. Or you can go swimming in the nice, clear blue water of the Aegean Sea. Plenty of water sports are also available; children enjoy going on the pedal boats. There are enjoyable boat trips that take you around the bay and the Castle. The second beach has many bars and restaurants facing the sea. The third beach is a smaller more secluded beach.

Apart from swimming and basking on the beach, there is plenty of sight seeing you can do. There are many interesting ancient sites you can visit near Altinkum. A short ten minutes journey from the resort center is the Temple of Apollo where you will see the famous head of Medusa adorned with snakes; and you will be astonished with the size of the columns here.

For a longer day-out visit, go to see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the ruins of Ephesus. It is a well-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean, and gives you a feeling of what life was like in Roman times. It is said that the Virgin Mary, at the end of her life, came to Ephesus accompanied by St.

Paul. Also St. John is said to have lived the last years of his life here and after his death, a shrine, the Basilica of St. John was located over his grave.

You can take a boat trip to the Greek island of Samos. Samos lies at the north-eastern part of the Aegean Sea. Visitors are enchanted to see the charming mountainous landscape of Samos with the essential beauty of the nature and the historical spread all over the island.

It is a unique experience.

Or perhaps you will enjoy a walk around the beautiful Bafa Lake nearby; it has a magnificent mountain backdrop.

Visit the Didim Aqua Park, just outside of Altinkum resort; the Aqua Park was built in 2004 and is very popular.

For relaxation and entertainment, there are a large number of restaurants and waterfront bars open until around midnight; later the party atmosphere moves to nightclubs. It can get lively in high season when the holiday spirit is in full swing.

There are many good hotels at Altinkum resort. The Didim Beach Resort, one of them, has its own golden sand beach situated in one of the beautiful bays of the Aegean coast. The hotel has facilities for games such as tennis, table tennis, basketball, etc.; it also has swimming pool, Turkish bath & sauna as well as fitness center. The hotel has its own shopping centre and disco within the complex. The hotel is 90km from Bodrum Airport.

You might also like:

T urkey has many beautiful

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beautiful resorts along the A egean coast . A ltinkum is one such small resort

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New Golf Holiday Destinations Turkish Golf Federation has announced that a further 100 courses are planned across the country.

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The idea of golfing holidays is not a new one and in fact many destinations have built a healthy tourist trade providing for the needs of the golfer on vacation. Typically it was the resorts of southern Spain and Portugal that held all the cards when it came to attracting golfers but that may be changing with alternative destinations working hard to catch up.

Although still technically part of Spain, the island of Majorca has been slow to provide facilities for the golfer. Perhaps it was the original lack of golf courses on the island, the lack of the timeshare investment revenue that built many of the original Spanish resorts or the perceived lack of transport links to bring in the visitors. Whatever the real reason for Majorca’s barren past as a golfing destination that is all changing rapidly.

The island now has several top quality golf courses with more being built all the time. It even has a multi course complex with is something golfers on holiday appreciate. Having the opportunity to conveniently play more than one course during a stay is a huge advantage, as is the provision of top quality hotel accommodation and accompanying leisure facilities like swimming pools or spas. One of the biggest golf complexes on Mallorca is the Santa Ponsa Golf Club which has three courses, two 18 hole courses and one 9 hole course. Only one of the 18 hole courses is open to the public.

It is accepted that the courses here are the best maintained in Mallorca. Another growing golf club is the complex at Sa Vida on the outskirts of Palma, with three courses here owned by Arabella Golf.

There are now 20 courses on Mallorca, all within an hour’s drive of each other, making the island a perfect destination for a golfing holiday.

Another country working hard to attract the holiday golfer is Egypt. The resorts in Sharm el Sheikh are already well known for their luxury hotels and their mild weather which makes them an ideal year round holiday destination. Travellers from the UK have been visiting this part of Egypt for a winter sun break for many years and, despite the desert conditions inland from the coast, developers are now starting to add golf as an option to the other attractions already provided for visitors. The Jolie Ville Golf Club and Resort has been the only 18 hole course in Sharm el Sheikh for many years.

Lying just south of Hurghada is the holiday resort of Soma Bay which also has an interesting 18 hole golf course at The Cascades Golf Resort to add to the sailing and diving that visitors also enjoy there.

As far as tourism is concerned the resorts on the East Mediterranean coast of Southern Turkey are certainly on the fast track, and golf resorts are part of those plans.

E UROP E AN T RAV E L M AGAZIN E

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