Travelling Cheap

Open air festivals in the UK

travelling b — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:15:06 +0000

Summer is the best season to enjoy a festival. The weather is perfect for a stroll in the park or n the middle of wild nature and you can have fun with your friends without being bothered by cold or snow. This is the reason why a lot of festivals in UK are held during summer. The following are some of the notable festivals in the country:

Bournemouth Air Festival

Enjoy spectacular air shows, nightly entertainment and create business opportunities in this unique festival. Held annual in Bournemouth, this coastal town is transformed into one party place every 3rd week of August. For a cheap musical break the best choice is a holiday cottage with prices started from as little as £3.35pppn.

Glastonbury Festival

Every 4th week of June, the Glastonbury festival features music, great food and remarkably lively atmosphere. Since 1970, this annual festival brings together some of the country’s top artists.

Wireless Festival

Held every 1st weekend of July, the Wireless Festival is often the destination for urban music lovers. This festival hosts some of the world’s biggest artists in rap, hip hop and electronic music. The festival started in 2005 and continues to grow every year. The festival is often held in Hyde Park.

Hard Rock Calling Festival

Another festival in Hyde Park, the Hard Rock Calling Festival is all about rock n’ roll from the past and present. Notable musicians such as Pearl Jam, Paul McCartney, James Morrison and Jamiroquai are only some of the artists that will be gracing the festival. This festival is a must for every music lover. The festival usually happens every 4th weekend of July.

The good taste of Antalya

travelling b — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:16:58 +0000

The beautiful and picturesque city of Antalya is located in southwest Turkey in the Province of Antalya. Any tourist will immediately fall in love with the city’s natural beauty, historical background and festivities especially in the 2nd half of the year. Antalya offers a complete holiday experience for anyone.

Antalya’s popularity is based on its attractions during both summer and winter. Tourists visit the beautiful beaches such as Konyaaltı and Lara. These beaches can be reached on foot from various parts of the city. During winter, Beydağlari National Park is another favourite attraction. Some also visit Saklikent but the place would require nearly an hour of travel from Antalya Airport.

The city also boasts of numerous historical structures. Museums, mosques, churches and other religious structures are found everywhere. The most popular is the “Fluted Minaret” or the Yivli Minare which was built in 1230. The structure currently houses a museum but more importantly, the structure is considered Antalya’s symbol.

The best time to visit Antalya is during the 2nd half of the year or preferably from the last week of August onwards.

The festivities have already started but some of the big ones start at the end of August. The Antalya Festival and international film festivals happen from August to October. There are also cultural competitions which exhibit the best of Antalya’s culture. During these months, you can enjoy the city’s beautiful natural attractions while visiting the cities historic structures or enjoy the local cuisine. It includes specialities such as: jellied trotters, tripe soup, tandir kebap or Arabian kadaif, washed with a glass of wine from the vineries of Antalya.

Cheap river cruises in Germany

travelling b — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:32:25 +0000

A cruise holiday ship is one of the most relaxing way for a holiday. You travel to various countries or cities around the world while enjoying world class amenities. But even with the service and opportunity to travel, they are considered an expensive way to go on vacation. Fortunately, there is an affordable alternative: river cruises. When you’re in Europe, this type of travel is actually one of the recommended methods to see the best things a country has to offer.

As the name suggests, the trip is often limited to rivers (and canals) which is actually a good thing since it allows the tourist to visit various parts of the country without too much effort. In Europe, countries that have beautiful rivers often offer this type of holiday: Germany, France, Austria or Hungary to name just a few.

The biggest advantage of river cruises aside from the fee is the ease of booking. Your travel agency can book this type of cruises a week or two before the departure date. Another advantage is the relaxation on documentation.

Since many of the river cruises happen within a single country, tourists don’t have to bring out their passports every time they dock and visit a tourist attraction.

For a river cruise in Germany for Christmas, eWaterways has a special 2 for 1 offer on a luxury river cruiser: Premicon Queen will take you on a dream cruise from only £400 per person.

McKeowns – legal help for personal injury

travelling b — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:43:44 +0000

An injury in a hotel or restaurant during your holiday is never good. An accident will cut your holiday short as your efforts are no longer focused on having fun and relaxing but on taking care of your health. Some people even end up spending more than the original budget because of additional medical attention.

A personal injury while on the premises of the hotel (or restaurant) should not be taken as pure accident. There might be some triggering factors that have caused this accident. More often than not, these accidents started because of negligence of the accommodating party. For example: you slipped and bumped your head which requires stitches. The slip was caused by the hotel’s failure to properly clean the floor. If such a scenario or anything related to it happens, a person may file a claim against the establishment.

Filing claims for personal injury is not an easy task. But to make it easier, immediately look for a solicitor with an expertise in this field. Your solicitor can help you determine if there’s actually a case that could be filed against the establishment and how much your compensation will be. In the UK the solicitors from McKeowns Solicitors can assist you with a personal injury claim.

To improve your claim, always document what happened and write down the names of the persons you interact with after the accident. Take pictures or videos where the accident happened as this will help you provide a clearer picture of the incident. Hotels and restaurants should take extra precaution on caring for their guests so your accident can affect their reputation. Show them as much documentation as you can so that your claim would be clearer and the group responsible should answer to such claims.

Affordable holidays in North Cyprus

travelling b — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 12:23:17 +0000

Northern Cyprus is a very popular tourist destination in Europe. It is the favourite destination of many Europeans because this part of the island doesn’t go through extreme weather changes. The shores of Northern Cyprus never get too cold even in winter and hot summer months are still tolerable.

Reaching Northern Cyprus is very easy as there are major airlines that go to and from the island everyday. Turkey is the best starting point by air and by sea. If you’re looking for an adventure and have time to spare, travelling by sea from Turkey is usually three hours but the trip is worth it because of the breathtaking view of island.

Cyprus is very popular for its beaches but there are a few beaches that stand out in the north. A good example is the Golden Sand Beach which is located next to the beautiful Turtle Beach. Tourists and locals enjoy the sands and observe the sea turtles. The cities of Kyrenia and Famagusta also have a good number of beaches for everyone to enjoy.

Historical structures are never lacking in this part of the island. Kyrenia Castle and the Old City of Famagusta is a must for those interested in the island’s history. The city of Beylerbeyi is well known for its gothic religious structure and the small town of Vouni is home of the palace ruins believed to have been built as early as 500BC.

Combine these interesting places and beaches with easy to access transportation and relatively affordable rates, many tourists can’t find a reason to avoid this beautiful island in Southern Europe.

Walking tours in Berlin: cheap and healthy

travelling b — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:07:05 +0000

Berlin is a huge and historic city of Germany. Although much of the world remembers Berlin as the home of some of the most brutal regimes in history, it still has some charming structures that can amaze any tourist. As a large European multi-cultural hub it offers an array of attractions which will keep any visitor busy and fascinated for days.

Even though Berlin can be intimidating and confusing due to its size, there is a very smart way to visit each location: walking tours. Many tour companies operate in the city offering their expertise to tourists who wish to walk to various places. It is very interesting and convenient that Berlin is arranged in such a way that areas of historic significance are in such close proximity that every walking tour has been attributed with its personal theme. Popular walking tours themes are:

• Tours including the main attractions – Visit the Berlin Wall, Ghost Station, the Cathedral and Hitler’s infamous Bunker in this walking tour.
• WWII historic tours – Although Berlin does not give away its WWII past, there are still a few places left that are offered as tours. These kinds of tours take visitors through the former headquarters and offices of the Nazi leaders of WWII.
• Berlin-Dresden tours – Although Dresden was destroyed during WWII, careful restoration has brought most of the buildings to their former glory.

Berlin’s walking tours are usually pre-scheduled. Tourists can also request a private tour but it often comes at a price.

Affordable capitals in Europe

travelling b — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:57:07 +0000

Europe is a very popular continent for tourists. Because of its historical background, unique natural surrounding and beautiful urban architecture, tourists enjoy visiting or re-visiting various countries on this continent. Sometimes because of their popularity, there is a possibility that some cities might be very expensive for tourists.

Fortunately, not every city in Europe is very expensive. There are capitals in Europe that would allow tourists to enjoy their holiday without spending too much:

Prague
The city was virtually untouched during the WWII which means most of its historical structures are intact. Part of UNESCO’s World Heritage site, the city boasts of impressive structures such as the Prague Castle. What made this city very affordable is the fact that tourists can walk from one attraction to another. There’s also a camping site where tourists can sleep under the stars while enjoying the summer nights.

Warsaw
As one of the relatively modest countries in Europe, Warsaw’s way of life is not as expensive compared to Western European countries. Various budget hotels exist and “milk bars” as well as traditional restaurants frequented by students are not lacking in various districts. There is also a UNESCO World Heritage site in Warsaw.

Berlin
There are so many things a tourist can do in Berlin without breaking the bank. It’s a big city with various attractions. Food is also inexpensive especially in local restaurants. Look for restaurants that serve “currywurst” as this is the sign that you’re in a local and affordable restaurant.

Cheap accommodation in Ireland

travelling b — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:39:12 +0000

Lismore may not be a top touristic destination but this small Irish heritage town has a lot to offer to its visitors: the Lismore Castle with amazing Jacobean gardens, a 17th century cathedral or nice beaches between Dungarvan and Youghall. The Lismore Castle was rebuilt in gothic style in mid-nineteenth century. The city of Waterford has a nice crystal factory and friendly pubs and eateries as well as attractive shops. The pubs and restaurants are very handy if you stay in a self-catering cottage. The rental price for The Granary Cottage starts from £181 per week and it accommodates 4 people (£45 pp per week).

Top Free Museums in London

travelling cheap — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:15:32 +0000

You don’t have to spend money just to know more about the history and culture of London. There are many notable museums in London that will not ask their visitors any entrance fee. The following museums in the list are free so include them on your holiday itinerary when visiting London:
The British Library - as the name suggests, the British library is home for book lovers but it’s also a must visit museum as it holds more than 150 million items related to literature. Original books such as The Canterbury Tales and Beowulf are sometimes in display.
The British Museum - with more than seven million items, the British Museum is a massive museum that holds important items that came from various civilizations. The museum was established in 1753.

National Gallery - established in 1824, the National Gallery is home to more than 2,000 paintings from different artists around the world. The earliest paintings were made during the 1300s. The gallery holds very impressive paintings of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
Natural History Museum - there are two reasons why any tourist should visit this museum: the massive library and variety of objects related to various branches of science. The museum used to be part of British Museum until a new structure was built in 1881 for a different theme.

National Portrait Gallery – the museum is home to more than 10,000 portraits. There are also busts of very important individuals that have an impact in British history. The museum was opened to the public in 1856 and the current structure is used since 1896.
Visit and learn more about London through these museums. You don’t have to spend a single cent to learn more about the subject of your interest in this city.

Irish cottages are back on the market

travelling cheap — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:12:11 +0000

The cottage industry is booming post recession after people were forced to re-evaluate their travel budget and appreciate the benefits of holidays closer to home.

Numerous locations in the UK have been long time favorites. Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District are hotspots for country-style holidays, connecting with nature and absorbing the tranquil surroundings.

Beyond the UK but still close enough, Ireland is back on the market with many attractive offers. Newly relaunched site Hogan’s Irish Cottages has entered the UK scene to sell the dream of relaxing time in a traditional cottage in Ireland. Ideal for people appreciating self-catering accommodation and attractive enough to the ones curious of the local flavors.

One way or another, Ireland is worth a go.