Holidays Come Rain or Shine: Top Destinations for Year-round Travel

Most of us give a lot of consideration to the weather when we're booking a holiday. Looking for a chance to get away from home for a short period of time, it's usually important to us that the weather in our destination of choice is as we'd expected. After all, what is a beach without the sunshine or skiing without snow?

Here, we look at several holidays that can be taken at any time of the year, without you having to worry about the weather forecast.

Florida
The list of reasons to travel to Florida on holiday is almost intimidating. Whether you're looking for something to entertain the kids, are keen to find some exotic wildlife or are merely after a beach holiday, Florida is the answer to all of your questions.

The climate in Florida is among the most reliable in the world. You can be sure that whether you're strolling around the golf course, taking the kids to Universal Studios or catching a Marlins game, the sun will be shining.

Jamaica
Even Europe's beaches can see a few months of grey each year, pushing us to look further afield for our beach holidays. Go as far as the Caribbean and you can bet your bottom dollar that the weather will be perfect.

Jamaica is one of the most spectacular and fascinating of the Caribbean islands. Spend the warm afternoons climbing Dunns River Falls and dance your evenings away to some authentic reggae music. It doesn't matter whether you're after an active break or pure relaxation, Jamaica always delivers.

Aspen
You don't have to be a professional skier to be familiar with the resort of Aspen – one of the world's most famous ski resorts. Not only can visitors expect fresh snow across all variations of slope but the surrounding area is wonderfully prepared for a little fun. From shopping to eating, Aspen has plenty to offer the tourist looking for a day off from the piste. Speak to Co-operative Travel for more information on the available packages.

Istanbul
The historical city of Istanbul is not one whose most prized spots rely on the weather. The city is unique in that it straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, providing an honest diversity of tradition and culture. At any time of year, take a walk up to the Galata Tower and survey some of the world's most spectacular architecture in the city's many mosques.

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Why You Should Be An Early Bird Travel Booker

The early bird catches the worm. But when you are a traveler who plans trips way ahead of time, you do not catch the worm. You catch discounts and the best travel promos instead.

Whilst spontaneous traveling can sometimes the most liberating feeling in the world, planning holiday vacations early on can give you lots of benefits. So if you are thinking of going on trips next year, you better book your hotel, flights, and travel packages now. For families looking for cheap holidays, organizing travels in advance is definitely the best thing to do – especially if you have a large family!

Discounts, you love ‘em!
By booking your travel in advance, you can get the biggest discounts. Those early bird promotions are there not only as an advertising gimmick of travel companies, but also because they want their customers to get the best deals. Remember your frustration when one day, an airfare promo was offered, you let it pass, and the next day travel price was back on its normal staggering rate? “I should have made the most out of the promo!” you moan to yourself. Spare yourself of that disappointment again by booking your travel ahead.

Lean season is THE season!
Book your travel during the months when people aren’t thinking of vacation. During this time, hotel accommodation and airfare rates are on their lowest. Economics tells that the higher the demand for a supply, the higher the price of that supply. But it doesn’t take an economist to understand why you should take advantage of this lean season low rates. Lean season is usually during those rainy months. Book your travel in July but schedule your actual trip on April or May. Wise, isn’t it?

Travel should be Stress Free
You have always known that procrastinating won’t do you any good. This holds true when you are booking your trips at the last minute. By organising your trip way ahead, you get to prepare things more effectively: your travel documents, insurance, your baggage, your gadgets and camera (of course, you need to take pictures!), and most importantly, yourself. You don’t want to be in that situation when you are all set to go and you find out you left your passport at home.

On top of that, organising ahead of time means you get to research the places you want to go to, leaving you better prepared and with grounded expectations.

You can definitely have all the advantages when you book your travels early on and prepare yourself well for the trip.

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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Jubail Industrial City Desert Areas

Jubail is a city in the Eastern province on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. It is the largest industrial city in the Middle East. It also holds the Middle East’s largest and world's 4th largest petrochemical company. It comprises the Old Town of Al Jubail, which was a small fishing village until 1975, and the new industrial area. Jubail industrial city is the largest civil engineering project in the world today.

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The Ten Ohio Restaurants That You Don’t Want To Miss

One of the highlights of traveling to someplace new is the opportunity to break out of the ordinary and step into unique experiences that you would never have at home.  Ohio offers visitors exceptional dining experiences that won’t soon be forgotten.  Point to any part of a map of Ohio and you’ll find one of these top ten restaurants.

9 Tables
This is fine dining at its best.  9 Tables in Athens, Ohio, is a restaurant that delivers a luxury experience to each and every guest.  Meals are offered in five or seven courses and contain locally sourced ingredients.  This special dining experience will last between two and three hours, so leave your evening open.  Vegetarian and vegan selections are also available in the same five or seven course selection.  There’s something to suit everyone’s taste.

Barcelona
Many American restaurants attempt to adopt the traditional cooking styles of classic European cuisine and Barcelona Restaurant & Bar in Columbus has definitely succeeded.  This German Village gem offers diners a refined and relaxed environment to experience Old World cooking and hospitality.  Lunch, dinner, tapas, and desserts are served each day.  Barcelona also offers a special lunch menu that changes each week.  If you visit, inquire about patio seating.  You’ll find yourself transported to a lush Spanish retreat right in the heart of the city.

Callaloo Café
The fresh, festive flavors of Caribbean are brought to Collinwood courtesy of the Callaloo Café.  Collinwood might not be the first place you’d expect to find the traditional foods of Trinidad and Tobago and other island nations but this funky eatery has become very popular with the locals.  You’ll be treated to live jazz, reggae, and ska played on Friday and Saturday nights.  If you’re looking for something new to try, look no further than Callaloo Café.

Casa Nueva Restaurant & Cantina
Another landmark of Ohio’s local food movement, the Casa Nueva Restaurant & Cantina has fresh, delicious Mexican-inspired food along with a selection of tempting sandwiches, salads, and appetizers.  This Athens, Ohio, landmark is a favorite student hang out and features live music by local musicians.  Casa Nueva serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner; it also features numerous gluten-free menu selections.

Ella
This fresh, intimate restaurant helped establish the local food trend.  Their menu features lots of classic American favorites such as macaroni and cheese, barbeque pork sliders, and ribeye steaks – with a twist.  The grilled Amish chicken is given a velvety coating of winter pesto sauce.  Grilled lemon is combined with creamy hummus.  The traditional cheese plate showcases selections made right in the New Albany area.  The happy hour and dessert menus are especially popular among locals.

Giannamore’s Pizza
If you’re in the Wintersville area and looking for a casual meal that’s also top-notch, you need to call Giannamore’s Pizza.  Customer’s love the crust that’s crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside.  Pizza lovers all over the state have consistently rated Giannamore’s as some of the finest slices to be had.  This is a dinner-only establishment so make sure you finish your day of sightseeing with a visit to Giannamore’s.

Pier W
Located in Lakewood near Cleveland, Pier W has become a part of every visitor’s must-do list.  As soon as you take a seat, you’ll see why.  The patio dining space at Pier W overlooks an expansive vista of beautiful Lake Erie and the Cleveland skyline on the horizon.  The view isn’t the only thing worth coming for.  The menu is full of delectable seafood dishes such as oven roasted cedar planked organic salmon and the restaurant’s very own bouillabaisse.  Pier W serves lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.  A vegetarian menu is also offered and happy hour selections are available in the late afternoon.

Scali Ristoranti
If you’re in the Reynoldsburg area and are in the mood for food that comes straight from the Italian countryside, then you need to drop by Scali Ristoranti.  Don’t be fooled by the unassuming exterior.  That simple sign is welcoming you to a meal like you’ve never had before.  Italian home cooked favorites like stuffed ravioli, Italian wedding soup, and four cheese pizza are served up alongside lesser-known dishes such as shrimp cognac.  Scali Ristoranti is pleased to offer an extensive wine list, including red and white wines imported directly from Italy.

Tlaquepaque
Zanesville is home to a treasured Mexican food establishment called Tlaquepaque.  All your favorite Mexican standbys can be found here; the burritos and tacos are especially popular among the Zanesville locals.  Even the salsa and chips will make you want to come back for more.  Generous portions encourage sharing so ask for a couple extra plates when ordering.

Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl
When you’ve finished your world-class meal, top it off with a taste of world-class dessert!  Tom’s Ice Cream Bowl has been enjoyed by Zanesville locals for generations.  Quality ingredients, top-notch service, and a retro styled dining room make for a memorable night out with the family.  Located just moments from highway 70, Tom’s is a perfect place to grab a snack while on a road trip.  Even the small portions are generous so there’ll be plenty to share!

Article contributed by Charlie Withers of the Two Guys Wine and Travel blog.

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How Can an American Have a Good European Road Trip?

Going on a road trip across Europe is a very interesting challenge for many Americans. Europe is full of beautiful places, with amazing natural sights, as well as historic landmarks that are a testament to all the important events that have happened throughout the centuries, but it's also a place where you can find a lot of beautiful examples of modern architecture. All in all, it's a great option for a fun, exciting road trip. But, it will only be fun and exciting if you do it right, which means that you have to do some preparations before you go there, including creating a route, figuring out how much you are willing to spend, and obtaining all the documents you need.

Before you decide which countries you want to visit and what types of activities you'd like to do there, you have to take care of the documentation. First and foremost, you have to obtain a passport, if you don't have one already. After you apply for a passport, you have to wait at least 3-4 weeks before you receive it, so you must take this into consideration. If you do have a passport, make sure that it's still valid.

Depending on the destination, you might need a visa, as well. That's the case with Russia, for example, and if you plan to go there, you have to apply for a visa at least a month before you start the trip. Also, you must purchase travel insurance and contact your current auto insurance company to see if your policy is valid while traveling abroad.

After you've taken care of the documentation, you should determine your budget. You should do that even before you choose a destination. If you establish your budget early on, it will be easier to decide where to go. If you are looking for a cheap accommodation and affordable dining options, you should avoid places like London, Paris or Zürich.

If there is one particular place you'd like to visit, such as some castle, a fortress, a lake, or an island, and plan the whole vacation around that destination. Once you choose a destination, go online and see if there are any interesting locations nearby, so you don't have to wander around searching for a cool place to go to.

If you decide to travel across Europe in a rental car, you must book a car a couple of weeks in advance, and take advantage of the discounts that rental companies offer when making online reservations. Some of the best European rental car companies that you should consider include Sixt, Hertz, and Europcar. Traffic laws and regulations are another important aspect of a European road trip. You have to pay attention to which side of the road you are supposed to drive on, speed limits, as well as certain requirements regarding safety equipment, including reflective jackets, first-aid kits and fire extinguishers.

To sum up, a road trip across Europe can be a very exciting experience, if you take some time to establish a budget, plan a route, and get informed about the traffic laws that are in effect in the countries you want to visit.

Author's bio:

Jordan Perch is an automotive fanatic and “green cars” specialist. He is an author of many how-to articles related to safe driving, green technologies, auto insurance and he's currently blogging for DMV.com.  

Image credit to travelerguidance.blogspot.com

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Spring into Action with Activity Holidays in Italy

Italy is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, with around 45 million tourists visiting every year and with so many vibrant cities and sites of great historical importance and cultural splendour it is easy to see why. However, whilst exploring iconic sites like the Coliseum and Trevi Fountain in Rome or the Leaning Tower of Pisa are joyous experiences they are only one side to this great country.

Italy has natural beauty in abundance and from the rolling hills of Tuscany to the rough-hewn Amalfi coastline it simply begs to be explored. A classic Ferrari may excite some people but for me the very best way to get up close and personal to this spellbinding magnificence is either on foot or by bicycle and there are no shortage of options for active holidays in Italy.

Walking has one major advantage over two – and especially four – wheels and that is that you have no excuse not to stop (regularly!) to sample the fine local wines. The country has around 20 major wine producing regions and whether in Puglia or Piedmont, Sicily or Sardinia, you will find you are never too far away from a vineyard. By their nature these tend to be picturesque areas to walk around, the gentle sun-drenched slopes laden with vines, perhaps an olive grove here or a citrus orchard there.

For those who prefer their scenery a little more rugged the Amalfi Coast is sure to tick all the right boxes. This is Italian glamour at its best, with towns such as Positano precariously built into the cliff side, seemingly defying gravity in places. Pretty little fishing villages painted in white and shades of pink provide restful stops to refuel with some of the simplest but most exquisite seafood you could wish to devour and the magical island of Capri is also easily accessible: a delight not to be missed.

Capri is a treasure chest of flowers, plants and birds, with over 800 species of flora and numerous bird species, including the fastest bird on earth (in a dive), the peregrine falcon. With dazzling rock formations and Capri’s famed grottoes, exploring is fun for all ages; the island is also home to several annual festivals, including the recently created Tango festival which takes place in June. More information about this wonderful island can be found by checking out the Capri tourism site.

Heading back to the mainland but staying in the South, Puglia is fantastic to discover on two wheels. It is relatively undiscovered (as much as anywhere in a country with 45 million tourists can be) and cycling between and through its historic towns and sleepy fishing villages and up and over the gently undulating hills is about as relaxing an experience as one can have.

Much of the land is agricultural, with tomatoes, olives, peppers, and of course grapes all grown here, which makes for interesting riding but an exquisitely fresh and delicious lunch. With wild herbs growing and perfuming the warm air you’ll soon be ready to eat. Stopping for sustenance in somewhere like Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a real delight,with the narrow streets of the atmospheric historic centre offering no end of small trattoria at which to indulge.

From there take a half-day bike ride and you can be at the beach, dipping your toes in the enticingly azure Adriatic Sea and this is another great thing about a holiday in Italy. As the country is relatively small, its rugged mountains, sweeping hills, exciting coast and endless vineyards are almost always within reach of wherever you are based. So, if you like walking, cycling, great wine, dazzling food and world class scenery, I think you've just found your next holiday destination.

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5 Star Weekend - 5 Things To Do In London For Luxury

Photo Credit: conorwithonen

London is the perfect city for a luxury weekend away, with so much on offer throughout the day and night. Here, we suggest what we think is the perfect itinerary for pure luxury and style throughout your stay in the wonderfully iconic British city.

Morning
Start your day in London with breakfast at The Delaunay, where there are plenty of the finest choices on offer to tempt your taste buds. Whether it’s an omelette, pancakes, fresh fruit or one of the restaurant’s freshly baked pastries, The Delaunay has something to start your day in the most luxurious of settings, priding itself on its elegant antique décor and style along with fine dining.

Spend the morning browsing some of London’s most famous department stores, notably Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Liberty, for everything from high-end fashion pieces to unique designer home-ware. Let the personal shopper’s at Harvey Nichols do the hard work for you whilst you relax, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy shoppers. Harrods offers everything you could think of, all housed in the beautiful building which makes it as much of a symbol of Britain as the classic red telephone box.

Mayfair’s fine fashion boutiques are also well worth a browse for those wishing to pick up more unique pieces to add to their collections, with more specialised designers setting up shop in what is perhaps the wealthiest area of the country to tempt visitors with their exquisite wares.

Pause for a spot of lunch at one of Mayfair’s finest eateries, La Petite Maison, which serves French cuisine of the highest and finest quality. Enjoy a glass of wine and a chat with friends, but, above all, relax and take the weight from your feet for a while, watching London life pass by through the window.

Afternoon
In the afternoon, take a trip to the British Museum on Great Russell Street, where there are many exhibits, artifacts and pieces of art depicting the history of the British Empire. Visit also the fine art galleries of Mayfair, such as Clarendon’s which offers a presentation of the works of the finest artists around the world. Enjoy a glass of wine whilst taking in the beauty of each piece, carefully mastered with dedication and emotion.

Evening
For dinner, take a table at Gordon Ramsay’s Michelin starred restaurant at Claridge’s, a luxury 5 star hotel in London, which offers the finest selection of meals to suit any taste, expertly crafted to perfection by top chefs from Ramsay’s much-acclaimed recipes.
After dinner, take an iconic London taxi to the West End area to see a show in one of London’s prestigious theatres, where some of the world’s finest actors come to delight and thrill the audiences who travel from across the globe to watch. Whether it’s Les Miserables, The Lion King or Billy Elliot, London’s wide variety of musicals is sure to capture your heart and will bring fond memories for years to come.

Following your evening at the theatre, return to your hotel to enjoy cocktails in Claridge’s Bar, where the skilled and attentive bar tenders will mix and serve fantastic beverages in a wonderfully glamorous setting, which is perfect for you to reflect upon your day in London so far.

When the day is done, retreat to your luxury suit at Claridge’s and enjoy your welcome bottle of Laurent-Perrier champagne and complimentary signature Claridge’s chocolates, perhaps in a candlelit bath to ensure a really lavish experience. Then sink into the luxuriously made bed for a good night’s rest, ready for your journey home the following day.

Sources:
http://lpmlondon.co.uk/
http://www.harrods.com/
http://www.liberty.co.uk/
http://www.harveynichols.com/
http://www.britishmuseum.org
http://www.clarendonfineart.com
http://www.gordonramsay.com/claridges
http://www.claridges.co.uk/mayfair-bars/claridges-bar/
http://www.claridges.co.uk/london-suites-rooms/
http://www.thedelaunay.com

Catherine is a travel blogger who wishes she could have breakfast in a 5 star hotel all year long..!

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Sample Simple Lancashire

Lancashire is a wonderful county to visit and if this is an area that you are interested in exploring, the temptation is to visit some of the larger towns and well-known attractions. However, Lancashire has much more to offer than this and is crammed with some hidden jewels. To take full advantage of everything that Lancashire has to offer, including beautiful scenery and areas of historical interest, you should make it your mission to seek out some of these areas.

Fylde and Wyre
By staying in the accommodation and hotels in Blackpool, you can take advantage not only of the fantastic attractions that this famous tourist destination has to offer, but also of the great transport links to other areas across the Fylde and Wyre area. The coastal location and large number of villages means that there is plenty to see. Explore they are on bicycle or by taking a walk on one of the many planned coastal routes to take full advantage of the diversity of the area. If you are staying in Blackpool then you will also be in easy travelling distance of Fleetwood Maritime Museum and Farmer Parr's Agricultural Museum.

Rossendale Valley
One of the most beautiful areas in Lancashire is Rossendale Valley, also known as the Forest of Rossendale. Featuring miles of stunning moorland and outstanding scenery, this area has many villages and small towns with fascinating activities. Haslingden, one of the larger villages in Rossendale Valley, offers the Belshaw Gallery, Haslingden Market and some interesting places to eat and drink. Helmshore is another great place to visit as this is the home of Helmshore Mills Textile Museum. Further activities can be found at Rawtensall, including a market and Ski Rossendale. The latter is ideal for adventure seekers.

Pendle
Pendle is situated in the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Beyond what nature already has to offer, Pendle is an area of historic interest, particularly to those with an interest in witchcraft. This is where the famous Pendle Witches were burnt at the stake. While in the area, the Pendle Heritage Centre is well worth a visit. Located in Barrowsford, Nelson, the Pendle Heritage Centre is filled with fascinating facts and information for visitors looking to explore Pendle and the surrounding area.

Image credit to telegraph.co.uk

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