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Visiting the Pearl of the Adriatic

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Tuesday, 03 December 2013 08:20

For budget travellers, the last-minute break is a thing of beauty, offering the chance to go places and do things that might previously have been out of your price range. A last-minute P&O cruise in 2013, for instance, could whisk you to the stunning city of Dubrovnik.

Known as the Pearl of the Adriatic, Dubrovnik has it all – beautiful historical buildings, a spectacular coastal location, gorgeous weather and a great mix of bars and restaurants. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most exciting (and affordable) things you can do and see when your ship docks here.

An introduction to Dubrovnik and the Old City

Dubrovnik sits on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, and is a city known for its varied attractions. What’s perhaps most remarkable about it, though, is its Old City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Packed full of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, this part of the destination is definitely the highlight of a trip here – and, happily, by exploring it you can actually see some of the very best views of the coastline, though we’ll talk more about that in a moment.

Since approximately the 13th century, Dubrovnik has held a position as a major sea power – something you can clearly see today with its impressive harbour. It’s also suffered a lot of damage in its time, including an earthquake back in the 17th century, and in more recent days, it took hits from armed conflict in the 1990s.

Thankfully, most of its heritage remains intact and UNESCO is taking steps to ensure the restoration and preservation of this incredible place. So, just what should you see while you’re here?

The ramparts

The city’s ramparts or walls are its most famous characteristic, and these are the number one attraction you shouldn’t miss. They surround the Old City and, in places, reach 25 m high. What’s more, they’re at least 1.5 m thick, increasing to as much as 6 m at some points. Because they’re so large, you can actually walk all the way around the top of them, getting absolutely stunning views of the coast as you do so.

Look out for the towers that are dotted all along the walls as well – these include two circular towers, 14 quadrangular towers and four bastions, to name just a few examples. You’ll find the main entrance to the walls at the Pile Gate.

Sponza Palace

Sponza Palace is another one of the highlights of the Old City, and it started life as a customs house. In fact, it has held quite a few different roles over its lifetime, including acting as a mint and a bank. Incredibly impressive to look at, it has a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles and is decorated with dramatic columns.

What it houses is equally impressive. Indeed, this is where you’ll find the State Archives, which are home to a collection of manuscripts that, incredibly, are almost a thousand years old. Exploring the palace, you can see a host of interesting things, including a collection of portraits of people who gave their lives during the conflict in the 1990s.

These are just a handful of the things you can explore in Dubrovnik – don’t forget to check what excursions your cruise offers to see what else is available.

End of summer sunshine: where to go for a budget break

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Monday, 16 September 2013 02:30

If you’re yet to organise your summer getaway, now’s the time to crack on with your planning. By leaving it late you’ll have the opportunity to snap up some last-minute deals, and there are a few destinations that combine bargain prices with amazing attractions.

We have listed some of our favourite places for holidays in the sun in 2013 below.

Majorca

With 550 km of coastline and a sunny climate, Majorca is a natural choice for a short-haul getaway before autumn arrives. One of the nice things about going on holiday here is that there is a good balance between beaches, natural wonders and cultural attractions, which means it’s easy to have a varied and interesting break.

Of course, hitting the beach is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy the sun – especially if you do a little forward planning and bring a picnic with you. In terms of where to go, Cala Llombards on the south-west coast is extremely pretty and great for snorkelling, while Es Trenc in Campos is conveniently close to the capital Palma.

Speaking of Palma, make sure you spend some time exploring this exciting city. You don’t need to break the bank – just stroll around the streets and soak up the atmosphere, popping into the occasional attraction like the Gothic Majorca Cathedral.

Tenerife

Tenerife has long been a popular holiday destination, and there are loads of reasons to come here. Like Majorca, this Canary Island has something to offer all sorts of people.

For example, beach lovers will feel right at home at destinations like Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos, while Las Teresitas Beach is beautiful and perfect for snorkelling.

If you prefer activities like hiking and cycling to spending time on the beach, you won’t be disappointed by visits to Teide National Park – home to the island’s highest peak, Mount Teide – and Corona Forestal Nature Park. For golfers there are plenty of courses to try out, including Golf Costa Adeje, while families are well catered for too.

Indeed, if you’re travelling with the kids you’ll have some great choices like spending a day splashing about in Siam Park – a Thai-themed water park – and spotting animals in Loro Parque.

Lanzarote

Our final choice is another of the Canary Islands – this time Lanzarote. Renowned for its lunar-like landscape, this is also a destination that has an excellent reputation for its weather and beaches.

However, there are also plenty of cultural attractions to be discovered. For instance, the Cesar Manrique Foundation is definitely a must-visit for art lovers, since you can explore his former home and see a host of works by both the man himself and other artists, including Picasso.

Many people don’t realise that Manrique was also a skilled architect, and when exploring the foundation you can get an idea of his abilities, with many of the rooms being created from volcanic bubbles that occurred naturally in the terrain.

It’s also well worth visiting Timanfaya National Park, where you can fully appreciate just how impressive the island’s volcanic landscape is. Head up to the Montana Rajada natural viewing point, from where you’ll be able to see over the strange lava formations all the way out to sea.

The Isle of Wight: a great choice for budget holidays

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Wednesday, 18 September 2013 11:13

Working out how to have a decent holiday on a budget can often feel like a chore – but it doesn’t have to if you choose the right destination. The Isle of Wight is absolutely perfect for wallet-friendly travel, and you can find out why below.

Self-catered cottages

One of the great things about the Isle of Wight is that it has plenty of affordable accommodation, with some of the easiest on the purse strings being self-catered cottages. You can find out more about these here, but they can prove particularly cost-effective if you’re travelling as a group, since you can divide the total bill between you all.

Another way that self-catered lodgings can help you save a few pounds is that since you’ll be buying your own food, you’ll have much more control over how much you spend. After all, being compelled to eat out every lunchtime and evening – as you often are at hotels – can quickly make the overall cost of your break skyrocket.

Free attractions

Another benefit of picking the Isle of Wight as your destination is that there are so many ways to entertain yourself that cost nothing at all. The beaches are perhaps the most obvious option, as these are what the island is famous for.

Its mild weather and high number of award-winning beaches make this one of the best places to hit the coast in the UK. Look out for stretches with Blue Flag or Seaside Awards for the best experiences – Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are all popular and excellent choices.

Sandown is one of the most famous on the island and is well known for its gorgeous sweep of golden sand and pleasure pier, as well as the fact that it’s perfect for surfing. Ventnor Beach, meanwhile, is home to charming little Victorian beach huts and is ideal for swimming.

Sitting above the shores of Ventnor is the town of the same name, and it’s in this area you’ll find another of the island’s best free attractions – Ventnor Botanic Garden. This is no ordinary garden; it’s located in ‘Undercliff’ area, which has a unique microclimate protected from cold winds by chalk downs.

What this means is that it has a much warmer – and often wetter – climate than the rest of the island, similar to the weather you’d expect in the Mediterranean. So, you can peruse all kinds of plants from across the world, including as far afield as Australia and New Zealand.

For those of you travelling with children, it’s also worth noting there’s a lovely picnic area here with a playground right next to it, which makes it easy to save on food costs and keep the kids entertained.

If you’re an active person, you should also bear in mind that the Isle of Wight is a walkers’ paradise – and, of course, a nice stroll costs nothing. There are more than 500 miles of paths on the island, and the beauty of these is that they’re well maintained and varied, which means you have a wide choice of coastal trails and inland walks.

The Isle of Wight Coastal Path is the most famous walking route on the island, spanning just under 70 miles in total. You can tackle this in its entirety if you wish, but if you’d rather just spend a morning or afternoon hiking then you can pick a shorter section of it. Indeed, there are plenty of little trails marked out within it, such as the Brighstone to Niton walk, which is 8 miles long.