Exotic Sun Trading

If you want to experience the beautiful places in the world then Russia needs to be on your list. I decided long ago that I wanted to visit Russia, but until now, I have never actually gotten around to getting myself there. Luckily I have a work conference out there this year and I have managed to work in two weeks off around my trip to fully enjoy what this great country has to offer.

I intend to see as much of the country as I possibly can in that time, so I decided to start studying When people ask themselves the question what country is the north pole in? Their answer is probably Greenland, but studying the map tells you otherwise. Most of the North Pole is actually in Russian Territory, although of course, it is officially not any country because it is not actually a land mass! This time around I don’t think I will be making it as far as the North Pole, but who knows, maybe next time?

Whilst browsing the internet I did come across several activities that would be great for me to do while I was staying in my main base of Moscow. I wasn’t going to be rolling money when I was over there so couldn’t afford to undertake a real flight in a mig 29 fighter jet, but I could do the next best thing! Because there was a place nearby that had the latest flight simulator hardware I would be able to replicate the flight of a fighter jet! Reviews seemed to indicate that it was as close as possible to the real thing and I was so excited that I booked a flight on this straight away!

With my russia business visa all sorted there nothing left to do but pack! I knew that I was going to have a great trip!

Off the coast around Cape Greko, a ten minute drive along the coast from Ayia Napa, at the southern end of Cyprus, there have been numerous sightings of the Ayia Napa Sea Monster. Known locally as “To Filiko Teras”, or “The Friendly Monster”, the monster has never reportedly harmed anyone, but has been blamed for ripping and dragging fishing nets.
Little video or photographic evidence exists, except for a few unverified grainy pictures. The monster has been “sighted” countless times by locals and tourists alike and it is speculated that it looks something like a crocodile or sea serpent. Greek mythology has numerous mentions of a sea monster called Skylla and is recorded in mosaics dating from the 3rd century AD.
The tourist industry in the area uses the monster to sell boat trips, and many hotels claim that they are well placed on the coast for potential monster sightings. Whether you believe it or not, why not take a day trip to try and find the monster when you are on a cheap holiday in Ayia Napa. It can be a fun day out for the family to enjoy the beautiful scenery offered by this area of Cyprus.

There really is no end of things to see and do in the Midlands. Top of most people’s list of ‘must-see’ attractions has to be Alton Towers Resort. Home to the UK’s favourite thrill rides, it offers everything from ground-breaking rollercoaster rides to a splashing water park. And the fun doesn’t stop there, as it also has a spa for those who prefer a more relaxing experience and a choice of two themed hotels. It even has award winning conference venues making it the Midlands conference centre venue for those looking for something a little different. With so much, all in one location, Alton Towers is somewhere the whole family will get a real thrill from visiting.

You may prefer to take a leisurely step back in time by visiting Iron Bridge Gorge, the home of the Industrial Revolution which changed the world 300 years ago. Fun and informative, there is a range of ten award-winning museums to visit. For example, you can experience the past at first hand with a trip to the Blists Hill Victorian Town which brings Victorian life to life. Then, why not visit Coalport China Museum, renowned as one of the country’s finest porcelain manufacturers and the Jackfield Tile Museum with its gas-lit galleries and period room settings.

For those with a love of all things aeronautical, there is the Midlands Air Museum. Here you’ll find an amazing display of both civil and military aircraft spanning over seventy years of aviation history. Stretching over two hangers, with a selection of planes on display in the open, the museum even includes the Sir Frank Whittle Jet Heritage Centre which celebrated the life and work of the Coventry-born engineer who invented the jet engine.

If you’d rather have a day monkeying around, then Go Ape is for you. A high-wire adventure in Channock Forest, this is not for the faint-hearted. The whole family can take to the trees as they laugh, shout and scream their way through three hours of canopy capers. You’ll pull on your harness, have a 30-minute safety briefing and training session, then take to the trees, testing your mettle against a giant obstacle course.  Climb a 40ft rope-ladder, Tarzan-swing into a giant rope-net, zip-wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and much, much more.

Organising great stag weekends takes a lot of careful planning and thought. You need to know exactly what sort of activities the stag likes to carry out, and you need to make sure that you plan something that is suitable for all of the people coming to the party. The first thing you need to decide upon is the location. Some people these days like to have their stag weekends in Europe and of course there are some great cities for this. I would personally recommend heading out to somewhere like Paris or Moscow if you want to go abroad. For those of you wishing to stay a little closer to home, you can always opt for London. London is an ideal location for stag weekends uk wise, because it has more great bars and clubs than all of the other cities in England put together! for some reason, in London the atmosphere always seems electric, and if you head into the West End, there is a real party atmosphere. Most people who are out on the town are there celebrating something, and it feels like a carnival sometimes.

Once you know where you are going you really need to think hard to make sure that you are planning activities that your stag will enjoy. After all, it’s his day, and it needs to be unforgettable for him. You could always try using a company called WEclipseleisure.co.uk who specialise in organising stag and hen weekends. You can give them all of your requirements and they will do the rest! Why risk the wrath of your stag, when you can let the professionals take care of everything and provide you with a great weekend.

If you are planning a break abroad this year why not plump for the resort of Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote?  As this former fishing village has just enjoyed a €16 million cash injection and boasts great beaches as well as wonderful nightlife.

Puerto del Carmen is the oldest resort on the popular Canary Island of Lanzarote.  And this is where the first tourists in the 1960´s stayed when they visited – at a time when there were no roads or hotels.  At the time the village here was still called La Tiñosa, but that has all changed today.  As now Puerto del Carmen – named after the local saint of fishermen – is a bustling and modern destination.

Puerto del Carmen is very easy to get to as it is located just a short fifteen minute transfer from the airport.  There are plenty of places for tourists to stay too – with loads of apartments and villas in Puerto del Carmen to choose from.  Along with a range of good quality four star hotels.  The best known of which is the Los Fariones – one of the first hotels in Lanzarote.

Accommodation here can be found in a number of different areas, with the bulk of the best villas and apartments located in the Old Town close to the harbour area.  Whilst there are lots of hotels in both Los Pocillos and Matagorda nearby.

Life in Puerto del Carmen revolves around the Old Town harbour area and the main beaches, the largest of which is called Playa Grande and which runs adjacent to the main Avenida de las Playas.  There are also a number of smaller and more atmospheric beaches to explore such as Playa Chica.

Puerto del Carmen is widely regarded as the nightlife capital of the island – and rightly so.  There are loads of clubs and bars located in the New Town in the area known as Centro, whilst throughout the resort there are an estimated 400 restaurants.  Providing holidaymakers with plenty of choice.

For those who like to explore Puerto del Carmen is located very centrally on the island, making it an ideal base.  Car hire in Lanzarote is cheap too – so it’s easy and inexpensive to visit key sights such as the Timanfaya Volcano Park which is just a fifteen minute drive from the resort.

Over the last couple of years a new golf course has opened on the edge of the resort whilst plans are underway to create a new luxury marina too.

This itinerary is great for outdoor enthusiasts. Escape to the Lake Garda region in Northern Italy and get involved in a myriad of outdoor activities from hiking and biking through the stunning mountain landscapes of the Alps and relaxing beside the glistening waters of one of the largest lakes in Europe. Of course, a trip to Italy would not be complete without sampling the delicious food and local wine!

Day 1 Riva del Garda

Surrounded by mountains, Riva del Garda, is a 2-hour drive from Verona and the starting place for this itinerary. Located in the North West corner of Lake Garda, the Mediterranean climate is evident by the abundance of olive trees and palms which thrive here.

Day 2 Monte Brione Walk

Start your week of adventure with a morning hike following the ‘Sentiero della Pace’ at Monte Brione. Spend your afternoon relaxing by Lake Garda, explore the village or take advantage of many other activities available around Lake Garda including wind surfing, hiring a row boat or swimming.

Day 3 Wine tasting

From the lakeside town of Riva del Garda, relax and take in the beautiful panoramic view from one of the best spots overlooking the town. Join a tour of the local winery for a chance to taste some of the delicious wines produced in this region, in particular Bardolino wine.

Day 4 Laghel Bike Ride

Continue to explore this beautiful region with a day’s bike ride around the lake. Breathe in the fresh air as you pedal your way along the many paths and nature trails passing the Varone water-fall, dotted olive groves and the ancient villages of Ceole, Varignano and Vigne until you arrive at the church of Santa Maria in Laghel, before cycling back to Riva del Garda.

Day 5 Verona

Hop on board the local transport and spend the day in the beautiful city of Verona. A city bursting with culture, history and world-class art make time to visit Juliet’s balcony that inspired the famous balcony scene from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.

Day 6 Boat trip to Limone

Set off on an hour’s boat trip across the lake from Riva to the town of Limone. Explore the pretty fishing village which is famous for its lemon-growing and was in the past only accessible by boat or from the mountains on foot.

Day 7 Gardaland

For an adrenaline filled day, head to Italy’s largest amusement park, Gardaland and enjoy a day on the rollercoasters! The park is located on the south eastern corner of Lake Garda between the towns of Peschiera and Lazise and costs €35 for a 1-day adult ticket.

Don’t forget to take out your adventure travel insurance as soon as you book your trip so that you can enjoy your tour to Italy. It is important that you remember to check that your holiday insurance policy offers you the level of cover that you need for your break before you buy it.

When buying your travel insurance, don’t assume that every policy is the same. Your needs may be different from others, so make sure your adventure travel insurance provides the cover that you require. Read the small print, check the level of cover and ensure you are covered for any activities that you want to undertake. Carry your holiday insurance documentation and the 24-hour emergency assistance number on you at all times along with your policy number so you’re prepared for every eventuality!

Last year my girlfriend and I were approaching our one year anniversary as a couple, and although we hadn’t mentioned celebrating the occasion, I knew that she knew when the date was, and I knew that she was looking forward to the date. Things had been going pretty well between us and I was determined to show her how strongly I felt about her. I didn’t want to jump the gun and pop the question, or anything like that, but I thought that it was important for me to show her that I was taking this relationship seriously.

I decided that since we both had a long weekend coming up which coincided with the event I could quite easily book us some plane tickets so that we could go away for a romantic weekend together, and I would be able to keep them as a surprise until a couple of days before. The question was, where to go. It had to be somewhere that was culturally rich, but I also wanted to take her somewhere that was fun too. Due to the fact that we were only going away for one weekend, it also needed to be close too!

I started browsing online to try to find some inspiration for where to go, when I came across a great site with information about what to do in Belfast and although I was only reading this in passing, I realised that Belfast sounded like the perfect destination for us. I had heard myself that the nightlife there was fantastic, and the history there is fascinating. Not to mention there are several parts of Belfast that are meant to be immensely beautiful and romantic if you can find them. I had a look at another website about tourism in Belfast and the information on this site really swung it for me. I knew that we could have a great time together n this city.

The very next day I booked some flights to Belfast and I started to put the trip together. I found a beautiful old hotel online which specialised in couples’ breaks, and I managed to book us an en suite room with a beautiful view. Every thing was set for our first holiday away together.
A year later and I can safely say that our weekend away in Belfast laid the foundations for the rest of our relationship to date. Things are going fantastically well, and I am thinking of popping the question very soon. Where? In Belfast of course!