As 2012 draws to a particularly dark and miserable close, it’s easier than ever for your thoughts to turn abroad and to sunnier climes. Thanks to Jet2holidays it’s also easier than ever to turn those thoughts into reality, and this winter, what could be better than to ring in the New Year in Spain?
That certainly sounds like a good idea. A cheap holiday deal can see you in the Costa del Sol within a couple of hours of taking off. Though we wouldn’t advise setting off with your heart set on sun, sea and sand at this time of year, if parties, good times and a touch of the exotic are what you look for then you will certainly find exactly what you want.
Spain, as with any other country, has its fair share of customs and traditions that make it a unique place to visit, and an even better place to unwind.
Family Traditions
For the Spanish, the Christmas period remains one fundamentally about family and tradition, with much of its strong Catholic population attending church services during the holiday. Parties and commercial presents take second place to nights in with the family, and Spanish children must patiently wait until the 6th of January for that new bike or games console, the arrival of the Magi, or the feast of the Epiphany.
Rather than a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer, many Spanish children instead leave a clutch of grass for the Magi’s camels, and receive their presents not from Father Christmas but from the Wise Man Balthazar. However, the same rules apply – he knows if you’ve been bad or good!
Grapes to See in the New Year
The religious calendar means Christmas doesn’t get under way until the 8th of December, and continues on until well into the New Year. If the relentless adverts and dreary high streets of Britain are leaving you a little jaded, you might do a lot worse than a sabbatical to Spain in order to recharge your Christmas spirit. But if it’s a New Year you’re after, Spain has that covered, too.
One particularly well publicised tradition is one that is a particularly easy to join in with, and a delicious one to boot. As midnight approaches, make sure you keep a portion of grapes to hand, for as the bells strike twelve to ring in the New Year, tradition says that you must eat one grape on every chime. If you can keep up, you’ll have good luck for each month of the New Year.
Though Tokyo is known worldwide for its notoriously high prices, truth is, budget accommodation options can be found. It's all a matter of knowing where to look. During our latest trip to Japan, my husband and I stayed at Grand House Changtee Hotel, and not only they had affordable room prices but they were even located in one of the best areas in Tokyo.
Location
Changtee Hotel is located only 5 minutes from the Ikebukuro train and metro station. When we booked the hotel we had no idea what this neighborhood was all about, but we soon discovered this was one of the most interesting parts of Tokyo and one of the places most popular with the young and stylish inhabitants of this amazing city. Needless to say all the nearby streets are packed with restaurants, bars, shopping malls, pachinko (Japanese arcade games used for gambling) and even a cat cafe. You can find absolutely anything your heart desires here, from budget to luxury. But one of our favorite things to do in Ikebukuro was people watching. Japanese fashion is incredibly different from the Western one and absolutely fascinating.
Further reading: 3 Day Trips From Tokyo You Shouldn't Miss
Further reading: 3 Day Trips From Tokyo You Shouldn't Miss
The Rooms
Changtee Hotel has both Western and Japanese style rooms, and we picked one of the latest as in the limited time we had here we wanted to experience Japan in all possible ways. Our room had two futons, but they also have rooms for 3 or even 4 people, ideal for families or groups of friends. The room was basic, in Japonese style, with tatami on the floor and we had to take off our shoes each time before entering the room. This is a Japanese tradition meant to keep clean the houses and falling in line and interacting with the environment the same way the locals do was a fun and interesting way of experiencing and learning about Japan and its culture. Also sleeping on futons, though maybe not really for everybody, as futons are not exactly known for their softness, was pretty comfortable and supposedly healthier than sleeping on a super soft mattress.
The futons were wrapped by the cleaners every day, the Japanese way of making the bed, leaving us more space to move around.
The room also featured an air-con unit and free Wi-fi, and downstairs, next to the reception there were free water and tea facilities, a microwave and self-laundry facilities. The staff spoke good English, Japanese and Chinese and everybody was extremely friendly and helpful.
In the reception they have this board, which we believed to be a very cute idea, with the nationalities of the guests staying in the hotel on each given day, weather information and events. It happened that during the exact period we stayed at Changtee Hotel, the Ikebukuro autumn festival was going on and the receptionist pointed us to the nearby street where the festival was hold. We attended the parade two days in a row and we were absolutely smitten.
Conclusion
Due to its great accessibility and connections, this Tokyo hotel was our getaway to exploring the area and the nearby cities of Kamakura and Nikko. We also discovered that Tokyo is not that expensive, as we were able to find budget friendly accommodations for our trip. In addition to the great deal we got on the hotel it was very clean and quiet. The guests have the option to stay in a more traditional Japanese style room or the standard western style room without the hassle of having to change hotels. It also proved to us that Tokyo is not really as expensive as 'advertised' and that budget friendly accommodation can be found. More than that, this hotel is a clean and quiet one. And on top of it all, you have the option of staying in a traditional Japanese room and if you decide this is not for you, you can change to a Western style room without the hassle of changing hotels.
Blackpool was the first municipality in the world to have electric street lights. It was around 1879 when large part of the promenade was wired. By then Blackpool was already fashionable as people enjoyed coming to the city to spend time by the sea, enjoy the beaches, the calming water and plenty of great accommodation alternatives. Today Blackpool is one of the most important location to visit in UK.
Blackpool Tower
The Blackpool Tower is the main attraction of Blackpool since its opening to the public in 1894. As other towers in the world, this is also inspired by the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris and it has an impressive height of 158 meters. Visiting the tower is a unique experience, as before the elevator guests get to watch a 4-D movie about Blackpool. From there passing through a room filled with memorabilia and old newspapers you finally get to the top, to what is now known as the famous Tower Eye. Two levels are accessible to the public: fist level with a glass wall for panoramic views over Blackpool and the sea; and the second level for those who want to feel the wind from up high. But what I personally like here is the Tower Ballroom. It dates from the end of the 19th century and it's a jewel to be admired and enjoyed. These days the Empress orchestra and the smaller Empress Dance Band perform on regular basis for all music lovers.
Blackpool Zoo
The Blackpool Zoo is the home of 1500 animals from all over the world: Asian elephants, gorillas, lemurs, giraffe etc. The pride of the zoo are the African lions and the Siberian tiger. There is even a Sea Lion Pool with Californian Sea Lions, and next to them the penguins that are so adorable. Interesting is also the fact that the Blackpool Zoo houses a Dinosaur Safari. It's a walk through area with over thirty life-size dinos, including the king - the T-Rex. What I love most in the Blackpool Zoo is the Miniature Railway. I have been always found of trains, and this found is a hidden gem in an totally unexpected place - a zoo. Very nice and a must to try out, even if you have to pay a bit extra on top of the zoo's entrance fee.
Blackpool Illuminations
I mentioned earlier that Blackpool is proud to be the first municipality in the world to have electric street lights.. So of course if you make to effort to get to Blackpool you have to experience the city by night, to get to see the Golden Mile. I am talking in fact about 7 miles of promenade between the North and the South piers of the city. You can find here everything from fortune tellers to fish bars, but the name comes from the abundance of slot machines that you could find all around this promenade. What I like about this part of Blackpool is the fact that here you can find the official Doctor Who exhibition.
Consider yourself a connoisseur of fine foods? Melbourne, perhaps more than any other Australian city, offers an array of food options that is unrivalled. Between the cafes, restaurants, and increasingly – pop-up vans, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re after, no matter what it is.
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| Image courtesy of ultrakml/ Flickr.com |
If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne and food is high on the agenda, here’s a take on what makes Melbourne such a hub for dining.
A quick history lesson
The taste and appreciation for good food is bred in Australians, with original settlers fast establishing an interest in Anglo-Celtic recipes. As cultures from Mediterranean and Asian regions migrated, a wide range of new tastes - sophisticated and delicate - began to spread, it wasn’t before too long that cuisine from China, Greece, Germany, Lebanon, Thailand, Italy, Vietnam, and beyond started having a tremendous impact.
Fast forward to today, and the historical link to food is still running strong in kitchens across Melbourne. Whether it be the big and robust tastes, or delicate and sophisticated, Australia’s heritage is locked into the culinary fabric that’s served up in thousands of tables each day.
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| Image courtesy of melburian / Flickr.com |
Seafood Heaven
Seafood is everywhere, a popular ingredient in most homes and restaurants. The famous ‘Throw another shrimp on the barbie’ didn’t come out of thin air. The Australian shrimp industry is small but known for its quality. They have a reputation for producing and distributing the best shrimp and are exported to every corner of the world. The clean ocean provides the highest quality lobsters, prawn, tuna, abalone and more, making seafood a huge part of the food culture here. You can taste this quality produce anywhere, be it some fish and chips shop on the street or a pan-fried barramundi in one of Melbourne’s outstanding seafood restaurants.
Lazy breakfast
If a good sleep-in is your thing, there are more cafes than not that cater for those who enjoy the luxury of a late breakfast. Brunch – for some, is not just an occasional treat, but a way of life, and this is pretty obvious by the amount of eateries who keep the breakfast menu going right through the day (and sometimes, beyond!).
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| Image courtesy of ultrakml/ Flickr.com |
Notable mentions for breakfasts:
- Don Vincenzo, Fitzroy. They possibly have the best Salmon Florentine known to man. Big call, but we dare you to prove us wrong!
- Three Bags Full, Abbotsford. This hugely popular eating joint fills up quickly and often has you waiting outside for your name to be called just to get a seat, but this is for good reason – they rule the roost! This quirky place is divided up into three main sections: a large modern and vibey space that leads into a more intimate bridging room that finally opens up into an amazing bustling space, complete with interesting industrial décor and a large communal table made from a reclaimed bowling alley.
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| Image courtesy Nagarjun/Flicr.com |
Exceptional selection of Wines
Outside of the excellent dining experience in Melbourne, you’re in for a treat when it comes to the wine. Australia is one the five largest exporters of wine in the world. With regions such as Yarra Valley, King Valley and King Valley, you can easily spend a weekend checking out the grapes of Melbourne!
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| Image courtesy of limaoscarjuliet/ Flickr.com |
Coffee, of course
If there’s one thing Melbourne does well, it’s coffee. There are too many places too mention here, and the fact is there’s good coffee everywhere you go. A good starting point is the breakfast paces already mentioned, as they all do fantastic coffee.
Melbourne is one stunning and diverse city. It’s a brilliant place to live, but also there’s plenty on offer for those wanting a great weekend experience. Pack your bags and get ready to indulge the senses!
Sharm el Sheikh is one of the most cosmopolitan resorts Egypt has on offer and with its idyllic beaches and beautiful weather, is the perfect holiday destination at any time of the year. Located between the stunning Sinai mountain range and the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea there’s plenty to see and do, so here are my top 5 things to do during your holiday in Sharm el Sheikh.
Diving
Sharm el Sheikh has a world-renowned reputation amongst scuba-divers and snorkelers. The crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea offer excellent visibility and a wide-range of exotic sea-life can be explored. The Ras Mohamed National Park is a particular favourite with experienced divers, as it is home to literally thousands of fish species and varieties of coral. The Straits of Tiran also offer divers a rich and rewarding diving experience with plenty of indigenous wildlife to explore.
Diving is a passion all over Sharm el Sheikh, and there are a number of diving schools which cater for divers of all abilities. Beginners are taken to specific sites which provide ideal conditions in which to learn the basics; many of these sites are close to shore. Divers are given their own guide, and they usually team up with other beginners. There are also plenty of opportunities for advanced divers to test their skills. Many diving centres host trips by boat to some of the area's best locations; Shark's Bay is a particular favourite. Egyptian regulations stipulate that all solo divers must present valid diving certification before being allowed to book advanced trips.
Shopping
The shopping opportunities in Sharm el Sheikh are unlike anything that will be found in any of the major European holiday resorts. The Old Market is reminiscent of several marketplaces in various top Hollywood movies. A wide range of market stalls offer a number of locally-produced goods for sale. Visitors can explore a multitude of items for sale such as rugs, clothing and genuine Egyptian jewellery. Those who are confident in haggling with stall-owners should expect to grab some amazing bargains while having an enormous amount of fun.
Cultural and Religious Excursions
Sharm el Sheikh is located in the heart of a deeply significant religious region of the world. Mount Sinai is mentioned countless times in the Quran, the Torah and the Bible. There are regular trips to the mountain which can be booked in advance. The mountain was the location of Moses' acceptance of the Ten Commandments, and it holds enormous significance for many people. Many visitors choose to combine a trip to Mount Sinai with an adventurous trip into the African desert. A traditional Bedouin settlement provides tourists with a true flavour of traditional Egyptian life. The famous St Katherine's Monastery is also a popular destination with visitors as it is located close the main descent of Mount Sinai.
Vibrant Nightlife
Sharm el Sheikh has a vast array of lively bars and clubs that make the resort a viable alternative to the famous holiday resorts of Spain. Visitors should be aware, however, that the legal age for consumption of alcohol in Egypt is twenty-one. For those looking for some outdoor fun many of the beaches feature parties, barbecues and spectacular fire-breathing shows. The resort's beaches are fun places to be during most evenings, as they also host belly-dancing shows, live music and a number of party games. There are also some very exclusive casinos in the many private holiday resorts of Sharm el Sheikh.
Parasailing
Parasailing is an activity which involves gliding through the air with a parachute while being pulled by a boat. There are many different services in the resort that offer tuition and all of the equipment required to get started. People can enjoy a unique view of the beautiful Egyptian coastline; Naama Bay is a very popular location for parasailing. Visitors who wish to try this breathtaking activity should check for services which allow several people to ride together. There is nothing more romantic than flying through the skies with a partner.
A cheap holiday to Sharm el Sheikh does not have to be a substandard affair. There are some fantastic resorts, hotels and holiday homes which can all be booked online for very reasonable prices. Further savings can be achieved by booking excursions and activities at the same time as the main holiday package.
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