Wolfgang Busch

If the thought of another holiday lolling by the beach bores you or the idea of traipsing aimlessly around another cosmopolitan city no longer captures your imagination, then maybe it’s time you considered volunteering abroad.

Volunteering is a holiday with a real difference and a great way to travel cheaply and explore a country and culture deeply. You will really get to know the place you stay in and understand the people you meet, and your memories from the experience will last a lifetime.

There are overseas volunteer projects in some of the most exciting destinations in the world. With organisations like Projects Abroad you can choose to work in fields as diverse as nursing, teaching, journalism, conservation and human rights campaigning.

This article outlines the benefits of volunteering, as well as some examples of projects you could work on.

Volunteering is about giving your time, skills and experience to help others but it is also about what you get to take home with you. For a start there is the opportunity to really understand the place you visit and its people. Then there’s the comradeship with the team of international volunteers that you will work alongside – you will leave with new friends all over the world who could be the source of low-cost holidays for you for years to come!

Volunteering overseas is a challenge but it is these sorts of experiences that linger in the memory longer than the easy-thrills of your average holiday.

On top of all this you will be learning new skills – vocational, language, interpersonal – through the work you do and be taking home the satisfaction gained from having done something truly worthwhile.

You can volunteer for just two weeks or for over a year and the opportunities are open for all regardless of their age, skills or experience. From archaeology to animal care, nursing to protecting coral reefs, working at a newspaper in Africa to providing care in an orphanage in Cambodia, there is a project for everyone. Teaching English in schools is a particularly popular option and you can find more information about how to teach abroad easily. Here are some other volunteering holidays that will make an unforgettable experience for you.

In the vibrant continent of Africa you could really get to know Morocco whilst teaching English and learning Arabic. You could even protect an endangered species of giraffes in Kenya, protect the rights of women in South Africa or help improve the health of local families in Tanzania.

With its diverse religions, cultures and landscapes Asia is the perfect place to volunteer in. There are business placements in China, opportunities to really get under the surface by diving on marine conservation projects in Thailand and the chance to get away from it all by living with nomadic cultures in remote Mongolia. You can target your hotel near what type of volunteer you want to do.

Maybe digging deeper into the history of the Incas on archaeological projects in Peru would be right for you? Or conserving the fragile ecosystems of rainforests in Costa Rica? Or working with orphans in Bolivia?

With so many holidays with a difference on offer, and so many ways you can benefit from volunteering abroad, it is no wonder a new breed of traveller has emerged. The voluntourist is one who volunteers to travel because they know volunteering is an unforgettable experience in itself and offers a great way to see the world cheaply and deeply.

Vietnam is a country of diverse cultures and splendid contrasts. It’s a good idea to work out what you would like to see before arrival and this will help you stick to your budget.

Hanoi

All itineraries for travelling in Vietnam should include a visit to Hanoi. This bustling city combines the old with the new and there are plenty of activities for those who have to keep an eye on their expenditure. The city actually dates back to 1010 and for those who are interested the History Museum at 1P Trang Tien is a fascinating way to pass some time and learn more about the cultural diversity of the country. Many inhabitants of Hanoi start their day with their traditional T’ai Chi exercises on the banks of the Hoan Kiem Lake; in English this means ‘The Lake of the Returned Sword’ this exercise is free and a great way of starting the day. After catering for the body spiritual it’s time to take care of matters temporal and there are many cheap cafes around the lake where you can enjoy either traditional Vietnamese specialities or even a French continental style breakfast. 

The cheapest food to eat in all cities across the country is that which is bought from the ubiquitous street vendors. The Vietnamese food is nutritious and fresh and you can try noodles, banana leaf wrapped pork or a variety of soups. The further South you go, the greater the amount of chilli that’s added to spice the meal.

Sleeping

Look out for guesthouses rather than hotels. These are usually family run and rather basic but they are clean and most have air conditioning (for a small fee) The Manh Dung in Hanoi is recommended. Da Nang hotels are also recommended as they can been affordably booked though sites like Expedia. Sometimes, just walking around an area that interests you and then entering into a guesthouse and negotiating a price is the cheapest way of finding suitable accommodation.

Vietnamese traffic is slightly manic but for those brave souls who enjoy a sense of adventure then bike or motorcycle hire is one of the cheapest ways of getting around. Some companies will even ensure that if you are travelling by train or air, for example then you’ll still be able to pick up a bike at your destination; try to ensure that the company you are using is reputable as the last thing anyone wants on holiday is to deal with all of the problems of breaking down in a lonely mountain pass. Most bicycle hire companies have offices throughout Vietnam.

The Vietnamese train system is cheap and efficient and probably one of the best ways to see the country and get to know its people. Most train tickets can be bought in advance, either from the local station or through a travel agent, though a booking fee will be added if you use an agency. The splendid ‘Reunification Railway will allow you to travel from the North to the South of the country and it’s up to you how long you wish to stay on board.

Photos via Flickr Creative Commons

If you're travelling on a budget, Bermuda might be just the perfect location for you. You might think now that eating out in Bermuda is way too expensive to even take in consideration. Bare with me for a moment and let me explain.

At a first glance, Bermuda seems to have perfect restaurants only for the wealthy tourists. But if you take to heart a few tips you can find a great budget location to eat right here, near the city of Hamilton.

1. Instead of an expensive breakfast, make a stop to the Miles Market. You might not be mistaken that food is expensive in Bermuda, but if you go to the supermarket of Pitts Bay Road for a nice assortment of breakfast pastries and drinks you will be pleasantly surprised, ending up with a rich wonderful breakfast.

2. Most of us want to have some drinks while on holiday. There are three great bars on Front Street. Docksiders, has reasonable prices and occasional beer pong tournaments. You can find it at the far end of the Front Street. Other options are Café Cairo and The Pickled Onion. These place are usually very busy, but there is a reason for this. They are lots of fun to hang out.

3. Now, usually dinner costs more money but if you like Italian food you can opt for La Trattoria, on Reid Street; or a French romantic dinner at Bouchée, on Pitts Bay Road. I love English restaurant-pubs, so I would go to The Hog Penny, on Burnbay Street for a great English atmosphere.

Well, you’ve worked hard all year and now you finally have a couple of weeks to spend on holiday! That’s the good part. The more difficult part is actually deciding where you’re going to spend your vacation time. Should you check out a beach? Maybe you’re more of the scenic type and want to check out a snow-covered mountain range. Whatever type of destination you have in mind, you should pause for a minute before purchasing a package.

A really popular destination among families, Sani Resort is a great place to go for anyone looking for a decent mix of Greek sunshine, heaps of tourist facilities and stunning beaches. The resort has four main hotels, each offering a pretty impressive selection of things to do and activities for kids. Plus, they are all five-star, so it's no chore finding a little luxury here! You'll find a quick guide to each below.

At a glance: Out of all four resorts, this hotel is probably the best suited to families and any travellers hoping to try as many activities as possible.

Overlooking the Aegean Sea, Sani Beach Club has everything families could ask for, without compromising on luxury. What sets this hotel apart is its absolutely huge range of activities (including clubs for kids of all ages) paired with its family-friendly accommodation, which has nice touches like interconnecting rooms.

One of the appealing things about staying here is that it's designed to look like a traditional village and, if you want a little privacy and an extra dollop of luxury, you can opt for accommodation with a private garden or pool.

This hotel is also home to the Sea World Diving Centre, which is the best place in the area for diving, and provides plenty of other active pursuits for adults to try - such as trekking - so don't think that the kids will get all the fun!

At a glance: If you're looking for the ultimate place to relax and rejuvenate, this is the place to come, thanks in no small part to its brilliant spa and calming atmosphere.

An all-suite hotel, the Porto Sani Village & Spa has a central location and is just 300 m from its private beach. Like the Sani Beach Club, the accommodation is designed to resemble a small village. Since these are all nestled in pretty gardens, this really adds to the relaxing ambience.

Probably the main highlight of this hotel is the spa, where you can indulge in treatments that have actually been tailor-made for you. Plus, there is a pool reserved especially for adults, so if you are travelling with your partner or other adults, it's easy to relax in the water without being swamped by children splashing about!

Sani Asterias Suites

At a glance: While all the hotels here are five-star, this one is pretty much at the top of the pile when it comes to luxury, so head here if you fancy being pampered like never before!

Boasting a private beach, this all-suite boutique accommodation is an utterly fantastic place to stay - especially if you're celebrating a special occasion. Lavishly decorated, the accommodation is all villa-style and there are lots of ways you can really enjoy the privacy this provides.

For instance, the hotel offers things like private candlelit dinners on the terrace, as well as massages and other treatments in your room. Throw in Sani Asterias's Michelin-starred chefs and inviting lagoon-style swimming pool, and it's not hard to see why this really wins when it comes to luxury.

At a glance: A bit of an all-rounder, this hotel is great for pretty much all kinds of holidaymakers. Its high points include its huge selection of room types, which means you get to pick something that really suits you, and its range of activities.

Situated on Cape Sani, the Sani Beach Hotel has great views over Mount Olympus and the Aegean Sea. The flexibility in terms of accommodation type is particularly handy for families.

It's got two sizeable beaches nearby, as well as everything from water sports to mountain biking. And, as with all the hotels in the Sani Resort, there is a full range of kids' clubs.

The Oceans Festival returns to Portugal this year with celebrations of the sea and all manner of maritime affairs. Lisbon’s strong connection with the sea is immediately noticeable to all who visit as surfboards top almost every car along the journey to the beach. Escaping the sweltering heat brought by the clear blue skies is the main aim, which makes dipping into the cool Atlantic all the more satisfying.

Currently underway but running until the 10th of August by Tagus riverside, the festival brings its onlookers and participants ocean-themed concerts with performances from huge international stars like Joss Stone plus other Portugeuse stars like X-wife band and singer Sara Tavares. This year’s themes are entertainment and the environment. Visitors will be also be treated to multimedia projections of dazzling colour and light. Expect positive messages about Lisbon’s reliance on the sea and its future.

Later on in the evening, you can sit out by the river with a cocktail and enjoy the wild pyrotechnics shows that the festival has become famed for.

Of course, a delicious array of sea-food will be on offer. The classic garlicy ameijoas are a must, and are complimented by an ice-cold glass of beer.

The thriving city of Lisbon attracts visitors for a myriad of other reasons which you can also enjoy. Remember to visit the sun-drenched beaches of Cascais and Estoril, only 20 minutes drive from the city centre. Lisbon is a colorful city. And its highlights rival with Porto's attractions. But in the end it's all a matter of taste.

The cosmopolitan hub offers theatre, Classical concerts, and vast, impressive historical sites such as Geronimo’s tower: a monastery from the 1500’s that is listed as a world heritage site.

The closest of the Canary Islands to Africa, Lanzarote also has the most dramatic scenery by far. Due to its compact size it is easy explored in detail in just a few days. Boasting virtually unbroken sunshine, beach life is the main attraction and there is little chance of other sunbathers stepping on your toes – there are 99 different beaches to choose, ranging from secluded coves, long sweeping bays and lagoons.

Most people head for busy Puerto del Carmen, which has the largest concentration of accommodation, and water sports. There are English pubs galore and excellent al fresco seafood cafes yet it is a far cry from the manic all action resorts of Tenerife or Gran Canaria. For the quiet life, Costa Teguise and Playa Blanca fit the bill, yet still boast places to hang out after dark although things are more spread out. In all the resorts you have opportunity to try scuba diving, surfing and parasailing. In low key Puerto Calero, you can indulge in all sorts of nautical fun including sailing, kayaking and fishing trips.

Venture inland a little and the contrast in scenery is startling. The star attraction is the mind-blowing Timanfaya National Park which features a scorched lunar landscape of twisted rock formations carved out of lava flows. This eerie terrain can be covered in an eco-friendly manner by camel train or on an organised mountain bike tour. At the summit is an attractive restaurant serving up wholesome Canarian dishes cooked over open grills using natural volcanic steam. The views from here are sublime. Another quirky legacy of seismic activity is the appearance of strange underground lava tubes. One, the Cueva de los Verdes, stretches seven kilometres and is reputed to be the longest in the world.

Art and culture is alive and well in Lanzarote and if you have time only to visit one venue, make it the Manrique Museum. Devoted to the life of famed local artist César Manrique, it showcases his work in utilising the volcanic landscape to produce fascinating and functional art which can be seen throughout the island in his Centres of Art, Culture and Tourism.

The kids are not forgotten during a holiday to Lanzarote. Guinate Tropical Park is bound to be a highlight for young animal lovers and top attraction here is the award winning Penguin Paradise. It is located in a captivating position on the north coast close to Famara Cliffs and enjoys sweeping views across to the small island of La Graciosa. Back to Puerto Del Carmen for another big slice of mindless fun for kids. Rancho Texas is a one stop theme park of wild animals, water slides and wild west action and a perfect change of scenery for all ages. There is so much to see and do that a single day hardly does it justice.

Directline Holidays’ Lanzarote page has plenty more information for your reading appetite.

Whilst you won’t have to go far in Tenerife’s resorts to find a fellow Brit, modern-day Tenerife could have been even more English if it hadn’t been for a fateful event on the 25th July 1797, 215 years ago.

This was the day on which Admiral Nelson and his troops attacked the harbour of Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital, in an attempt to capture the island from Spanish authority. In the midst of the battle Nelson was hit with shrapnel in his right elbow, forcing him off the battlefield for an emergency amputation, and then to accept his first and only defeat.

However, the people of Tenerife were so kind in their treatment of the surrendered British troops that Admiral Nelson sent the victorious General Gűtiérrez a gift of English ale and cheese as a symbol of thanks. In return, the General sent Admiral Nelson a barrel of fine wine, and the convivial relationship between the two countries has thrived ever since.

Two Sides to Tenerife

After all, you only have to visit Tenerife to witness the throngs of British visitors soaking up the hot Canary Island sun, enjoying a taste of home in one of the many English-themed bars or taking day trips to discover more of this beautiful island, whose landscape could have been much different had Admiral Nelson been successful on that momentous day.

Tenerife’s unique qualities have also tempted many Brits to move to Tenerife altogether – though the cheap property prices and low cost of living are also an important factor too.

Nevertheless although many Brits have made Tenerife their permanent home, the island is still Spanish through and through, with many regions and fishing villages outside the main resorts that are blissfully untouched by the large hoteliers and all-night party venues.

All of this is not to say that Tenerife’s locals don’t commemorate the day on which their country was spared by Admiral Nelson, as July 25th is now known as the day of the ‘Victory Over the English’. If you’re visiting on cheap flights to Tenerife from an airline like Jet2.com this July be sure to visit Santa Cruz to celebrate with the locals, and perhaps even visit the Regional Military Museum to find out more about this extraordinary battle.

It’s here that you discover the real story of what happened on the field that day, as well as see real artefacts from the battle including captured British flags, weapons and even a cannon known as El Tigre - which is reputed to have been the one that fired the ball, that cost Nelson his right arm.

There are also a number of paintings and documents concerning the day of victory that will keep history lovers intrigued for hours, plus an enormous full-scale model of Santa Cruz as it appeared in 1797 and depicting the attack on the city by Nelson’s men.

Hoping to book a holiday in Greece? If you're considering visiting one of the Greek islands, you may well have heard of Santorini - a place that's particularly well known for its impressive scenery and sunsets. Since there are so many islands to choose from, though, you should get an idea of what makes each good to visit before making your final decision. Below, you can find out all about the appeal of Santorini.

Scenery and sunsets

We all have different priorities when we go on holiday. Some people want nothing more than sun, others seek culture, while other people prize activities over everything else. Santorini, with its incredible volcanic landscape, tends to suit holidaymakers who are after great scenery.

In fact, Santorini's really made a name for itself in terms of landscape, thanks in no small part to its blue-domed churches, whitewashed buildings, dramatic cliffs and incredible sunsets. It's these sunsets that draw a lot of people here - especially couples - and, if you want to get the best possible view, you need to know where to go.

Head up to the north of the island and you'll find the village of Oia. Full of lovely little tavernas, it's got a reputation for being one of the best places in Santorini for seeing the sun setting for the evening. Why? It has a brilliant uninterrupted view, which means you can watch the whole thing from start to finish without any landmarks getting in your way, and you also get great views over neighbouring islands. It's worth bearing in mind that this is hardly a well-kept secret, though, so you'll probably have to share the moment with quite a few other people.

The village of Imerovigli is another good choice if you fancy checking out the sunset, since it's the highest point of the caldera. In fact, this makes it great for admiring the view at any time of day, as it gives you probably the best vantage point across the island and out to sea.

Where better than an island famous for its sunsets for a romantic break? Santorini is almost unbelievably pretty, so it's no surprise that it's a magnet for honeymooners and couples.

While everyone's idea of romance is a little different, most of us generally look for luxurious accommodation when planning a special romantic getaway. And, as you may have guessed, Santorini has plenty of options in that regard. What's really nice about it is there are some seriously good hotels in a number of the most scenic little villages (including Oia, the one known for its sunsets).

An added bonus is that, since there are so many of these villages, it's not hard to find something close to the capital, Fira, that still exudes an authentic Greek atmosphere. Stay in the village of Megalohori, for instance, to be in the heart of the local winemaking industry, surrounded by beautiful vineyards and churches, and just ten minutes away from Fira.

Among the spots you should try to visit is Ancient Thira, where you can see temples, a theatre, mosaics and an old market place, among other things. The ruins include Roman, Hellenic and Byzantine structures, but it's been established that the site was first occupied in the 9th century by the Dorians.