Non EU Holiday Destinations - Magical Iceland

Iceland is situated North West of the UK on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Capital and only city of Iceland is Reykjavic, with a population of about 120,000 it makes up well over a third of Iceland's entire population - this city is the hub of Iceland's tourism. After the European Championships last year, it was claimed 10% of the entire population were in France to see their incredible run in the tournament (beating England in the last 16, cough), and with a population as small as that it is easy to believe.

Iceland is geologically and volcanically active due to its situation on the Mid-Atlantic ridge - those who did GCSE Geography will know that where tectonic plates meet, volcanic activity is rife. This characteristic is one of the main draws for tourists to come to Iceland - the scenery and landscape make it one of the best holiday destinations for anyone with an interest in geography or geology - however anyone can enjoy the country's spectacular sights, from young to old.

One of the top tourist hotspots is the blue lagoon - an incredible geothermal spa. Considering the regularly freezing air temperatures that Iceland has, you may be shocked to learn that the water temperature of the blue lagoon averages at 40°C. This is becuase of a nearby geothermal power station uses an underground lava flow to heat water that turns turbines, and the hot water is then pumped out into the lagoon for bathers to swim in. The water absorbs many minerals such as sulphur as it passes through the rocks and these help give the water its distinctive blue colour, as well as having medicinal purposes - the water is siad to heal certain skin diseases.


The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The geysers of Iceland are also another incredible sight - fountains of piping hot water shooting up into the air. Many tours will stop at one or two - you can take your own wheels but be wary of the ice - it'll be a very different experience to driving in most of Europe.

Venice - Most Romantic Destinations in Europe

Venice is without doubt one of the most romantic holiday destinations on the planet. Located in Northern Italy, it is a truly unique and historic town, brimming with culture. It has been described as the most beautiful city in the world by many and it is easy to see why.
Venice is famous for being situated right out in the Adriatic sea, with a network of rivers weaving through the city itself. It is made up of 118 small islands - this characteristic has earned Venice the title of the "City of Water". The traditional image of tourists snuggled together in a gondola being transported down the narrow, winding waterways between beautiful riverside buildings is a famous one - and rightly so. Nowhere else on the planet is quite like Venice and for this reason alone it is a holiday destination that everyone should visit at some point in their life.

Venice is definitely a good city for couples - gently drifting down the rivers in a goldola, the traditional Venetian rowing boats, is an experience to savour, and very romantic. The city is so beautiful as well, it is easy to spend hours just wandering the streets in your partners arms, soaking up the sun (if you're lucky). The Italian lifestyle and culture is itself is very suave and chic, so combined with the city you get an very sexy holiday destination. The restaurants in Venice are typically very good, serving up your traditional Italian fare like pizza and pasta as well as more up market speciality dishes such as freshly caught fish and local meat dishes. One tip - watch out for tourist traps - we went to a restaurant which was basically the first one we came across upon entrance to the city main, and paid about 18 euros for a frozen base pizza and bottle of water. So be wary of vendors trying to get you into their restaurants, although this is true in all cities, as Venice is quite pricey anyway you'll be even more annoyed about paying over the odds for a poor quality meal. If you fancy exploring areas outside of Venice itself, we would recommend renting a car to drive down the coast or wherever the wind takes you. If you want car hire, Venice has many companies to choose from all offering various deals and cars, at various locations.


Traditional Venice gondolas

Overall, Venice is a really special town, full of history. Whether you're in a relationship, with friends, on your own or with your family, there's plenty of things to keep you occupied. However there's something about Venice that makes it one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world - I'd definitely recommend it as somewhere to go with your partner.