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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.

Best places to find winter sun on the cheap

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Wednesday, 06 November 2013 02:32

With the winter well on its way in the UK, now is definitely the best time to begin looking at ways to escape the gloom by going on a winter sun holiday. However, not all of us have loads of spare cash, so where can you go if you’re on a budget?

We’ve come up with a few suggestions that lend themselves well to winter escapes without a hefty price tag.

Tenerife

The Canary Islands have long been a popular choice for anyone hoping to get some sunshine in the colder months of the year, with Tenerife a particularly good option as it’s described as the island of eternal spring. What’s more, it’s great for those on a budget as there are usually some fantastic deals on accommodation available in the winter – check out some of these offers – as well as plenty of free attractions.

Of course, one of the biggest draws is the coast, with glorious beaches dotted all around the edge of the island. Active travellers will love heading to the interior though for the chance to hike in the majestic Teide National Park. Winter is a wonderful time for this sort of holiday as the weather isn’t too hot.

There are also plenty of charming villages that offer a glimpse of life on the island – wandering around these at your leisure is a fantastic way to spend a day that won’t cost you a penny.

Bodrum

Bodrum is a wonderful all-round destination that’s great if you’re looking for a spot of sunshine. There’s loads to see and do here that won’t cost you the earth, as well as some glorious beaches that are perfect if you’re aiming to work on your tan.

In fact, the beach that runs between Bodrum castle and the archaeological site of Halikarnassus offers sunbeds and beanbags for free, so you can relax in comfort. You can also travel a little further out of Bodrum to the bays of Gumbet or Bitez, where sunbeds are available and there are plenty of bars and restaurants close by.

If you want your getaway to be about more than just sunning yourself though, Bodrum is a great choice because of its varied historical and cultural attractions. We’ve already mentioned Halikarnassus – a city that was once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – and although its now in ruins, the site is still well worth a visit.

Within Bodrum itself are the Myndos Gate – the former entrance to the city – and Bodrum castle, which now houses the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, a fascinating place to explore. Just outside Bodrum is a Roman amphitheatre that’s been well preserved.

Essaouira

For something totally different, and a little off the beaten track, consider Morocco and, more specifically, Essaouira. This coastal city has a bit of everything and again can be cheap to explore if you know where to go and what to see.

It has a reputation for attracting artists, thanks to the beauty of its architecture and the quality of the light here. There are sculptures and paintings by an array of artists on show in some of the local galleries, while there are many crafts practised here – including marquetry and rug making – that are forms of art in themselves.

Essaouira is also renowned for its windy weather, something that’s made it a popular spot with windsurfers. It’s said that to truly appreciate the city you should visit during the winter as this is when you can see Essaouira at its best, with huge waves crashing against the old city ramparts and fewer people crowding its beaches.

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.