Best Holiday Destinations in July & August

July is upon us already - it seems like only yesterday we were munching down the mince pies and opening presents round the Christmas tree. Yes, we are halfway through the year, and officially into Summer. July and August are the busiest months for people to go on holiday for much of Europe - because of this high demand you will usually find prices for hotels / flights etc to be at their peak, hence 'peak time'. If booking far enough in advance you can usually get really good deals on your package holidays and flights, however if you are still looking for somewhere to go you'll do well to get a cheap deal - I just bought some flights to Italy for £250 return - if I had booked them a couple of weeks ago they would have set me back just £160. So if you are planning to go somewhere this summer, or September/October time, I'd recommend getting everything sorted out asap to save money, as prices tend to keep on increasing as the date gets nearer. The exception to this can be last last minute deals - if you look to go away tomorrow you can usually get really cheap deals - as it is such late notice and the airlines /travel agents would rather have someone pay less than to miss out on the business completely.

So where are the best holiday destinations in July and August? Well this is a bit of an unspecific question - it really completely depends on what kind of holiday you want, who you are with, your budget and many other factors. Many of us, myself included, like to go abroad around this time - slightly ironic perhaps considering they are the only 2 months in the UK where the weather is actually nice and hot. My advice would be to check with your travel agents and do some research online for good deals - if your on a strict budget its probably best to see what holiday destinations have good deals for them and building from that - ie. choose where to go once you know you can buy flights or a package at a good price. You should always be able to find a range of really exciting places to travel to so you won't be stuck with staying in a 2* out of town hotel in an country you've never heard of, just to get a good deal.

Brussels, Belgium - Best European Holidays

-->Brussels is a city at the centre of Europe in more ways than one. Not only is it geographically fairly central within Europe, it is also a political centre, with many of the decisions of European parliament taking place in the city. However, don't let the political status of this place put you off, it is a great holiday destination to visit for a nice city break.

The city has excellent transport links to nearby European countries which is a big bonus - you can reach the city very easily on the Eurostar, just a couple of short hours away away from London Waterloo station. Book in advance to save a good amount on your ticket - I got a return from Brussels for about £80 but that was not particularly early notice. Once there, there's a whole host of cheap hostels and hotels to stay in, as well as the more pricey up-market places if you've just been given a Brucey bonus at work.

There's a range of things to do around te city and it's not particularly big so you can explore it on foot if the weathers nice. There are a lot of nice green park areas on the outskirts of the city which are nice to chill out in in the summer. The Grand Place is in the centre of the city and is a great place to take a few snaps. The architecture of the buildings is fantastic - the town hall in particular is a sight to behold, finished in 1455 - the rest of the Grand Place was subsequestly built around this magnificent building. Get a famous Belgian Waffle from one of the many stalls around the Grand Place while you have a wander. Choose from a range of toppings like chocolate sauce or ice cream, just to warn you they are very filling so not recommended before any strenuous activity.


The Town Hall in the Grand Place, Brussels

Another top sight is the Manakin Pis, a little statue of a boy, doing a wee into the fountain basin - one of the symbols of the city. The most famous legend of the statue is that the two year old Duke Godfrey III of Leuven. During a battle back in 1142, the troops of the Duke placed him in a hanging basket nearby as a form of motivation, where he proceeded to urinate on the heads of the opposition - the Berthouts. The Duke quickly gained legendary status from the affair.

Brussels is also a good place to visit for a good night out. There are a good number of bars and pubs around town - a popular pasttime is playing chess in one of the many chess cafes while sipping on a premium Belgian beer. The bar Delirium is famous for hosting the largest number of beers in the world at one time - there are usually over 2000 varieties of beer stocked here at any one time. Definitely worth a visit, and it is easy to end up hanging round in here until the early hours sampling the huge range thay have on offer.

Brussels is definitely one of the best holiday destinations to visit for a classy gastronomic experience as well. The main strip of restaurants offers pretty generic Belgian food, ie. the classic Steak Frites of Moules Frites - however many of these restaurants overcharge so don't be tempted by the special offers offered by the waiters. I would recommend exploring a little further out to get better quality, more authentic food at cheaper prices, although eating on the main strip is definitely an experience.

Overall Brussels is an excellent holiday destination for a pleasant city break - there's plenty on offer here. The nearby towns like Bruge offer a decent daytrip as well if you get bored of the city itself.

Best Holiday Destinations for Familes and Kids

Choosing the perfect holiday destination can be hard when you've got kids. Especially when everyone wants different things from your holiday. Dad wants some exciting watersports, mum wants somewhere with relaxing walks through the woods or along the sea, and the kids want somewhere with activities like football and swimming, as well as somewhere they can build sand castles of course.

So what are the best holiday destinations for families? Well, it depends of course on what you are after but here are a few suggestions that offer.

First, holiday camps based in England can be great if you want to stay in the UK and save abit of money, as they can be great fun. Companies like Butlins, Pontins and Center Parks offer pretty good deals and often they can be within a couple of hours drive. Being here in the UK though you can't guarantee the weather will be nice, but with a vast range of activities such as mountain biking, swimming, fotball etc, as well as night time shows, you will have plenty to do even if it isn't as exotic as going abroad.

Spain is a classic holiday destination for families. One of the premier package holiday destinations, Spain offers many great deals for familes and many resorts have great facilities for every taste. The Costa Del Sol and the Costa Blanca are two well established strips of coastline that should be looked into further if a holiday in Spain sounds appealing - many holiday makers just keep on going back.

America is always a safe bet when it comes to taking the family away. Florida springs to mind as somewhere the kids just love - Disney World and the countless other amusement parks are what kids dreams are made of - and they are great for all ages. If they are abit older you can wander off and relax in the gardens and zoos that many of these parks have if the thought of loop the loops and corkscrews on the rides fill you with fear. This sort of holiday comes at a price though, flights are expensive and you will need plenty of spending money once you get there too.

Non EU Holiday Destinations - Home or Abroad?

Recent statistics reveal that UK caravan holidays are surging in number as people are less willing to splash out on extravagant foreign holidays - people are returning to the classic British holiday culture of the 70's and 80's. Caravan sites and caravans themselves are also becoming better equipped, with better facilities. UK caravan holidays are therefore taking off - and as the economy continues to slump we can only predict that they will continue to grow in popularity. There are many great caravan sites across the UK as well so you are never far away from one, of course it is up to you whether you travel 20 miles for your holiday, or 200.

So it would appear from recent statistics that both holiday destinations outside the EU, which do not use the Euro, as well as domestic holidays such as caravanning, are soaring in popularity. Non EU holidays to places such as Turkey and Eastern Europe are cheaper as they do not use the Euro, which at present is very strong against the pound, causing expensive holidays.

At the same time cheap UK holidays are becoming the 1st choice for many tourists. Foreign European holiday destinations are losing out - places such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and France - places that were once alot cheaper than England but now are just as pricey, making it hard to justify spending hundreds of pounds more than a cheap and cheerful holiday at home.

Most Romantic Holiday Destinations: Paris, France

When asked where the most romantic holiday destination in the world is, one place immediately springs to mind - Paris. No, it may not have the warm sunshine of the Caribbean or the white beaches of, well, the Caribbean but it has something much more - a certain, how do you say it...je ne c'est quoi.

There's something really romantic about the whole atmosphere of the place - the architecture, the French languare, the food - and of course all that lovely French wine doesn't go amiss either. All in all Paris is definitely one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world - in my opinion it tops the list.

But you don't have to be in a relationship to enjoy Paris - no, anyone on their own or with friends should find Paris a great city anyway - it is the capital of France after all. There are more activities than you can shake a baguette at - all the usual ones associated with capital cities such as eating, drinking - incidentally Paris is renowned for its exquisite gastronomy - clubbing, sight seeing, relaxing, walking, shopping....you name it you can do it in Paris. Perhaps the water sports on the River Seine have not taken off in the same way as they have on the Australian Gold Coast, but on the whole you can be confident Paris offers what you are looking for.


A romantic Paris sunset

So, Paris is one of the best destinations for couples, but where are good places to go here? Well, the Eiffel Tower is an obvious choice, but for something a bit more special, try the Notre Dame Cathedral, for spectacular views of the city. As you are not as high as at the top of the Eiffel Tower, you will actually be able to see the city in detail, and appreciate its beauty while snuggling in your partners arms.

Paris is also full of beautiful gardens - the Luxembourg Gardens in particular are a great place for couples to go on a nice warm summers day. You can really unwind here and enjoy your partners company - the surroundings really are lovely. You could easily spend the whole day lazing around - just don't have anything else planned as you don't want to be rushing to leave.

I could go on for hours talking about the qualities which make Paris such a great city for couples but in many ways it is better to explore it for yourselves and find your own favourite spots. I'm sure you will agree once you visit, that Paris is one of the most romantic holiday destinations in the world - the only problem is that you may not want to leave when its time to go.

Non EU Holiday Destinations: Switzerland, Europe

All this talk of global economic meltdown shows no sign of slowing down - people are starting to become much more careful with their money, and rightly so. Car companies are falling like skittles around the world, as are our trusted banks. Because they all decided to go to the Bahamas for their Christmas party and put it on expenses, along with a few dozen crates of champagne and several more strippers apparently. Which has all left you and I with empty wallets and empty suitcases as a result - people are cutting back on their holiday expenses. I told you earlier more people were packing their bags for Turkey than Spain because of the cheaper cost., as it is a non EU holiday destination. So where else can we go that is relatively close and not ridiculously expensive with the Euro?

Well, not Switzerland. It doesn't use the Euro but unfortunately most things are still very expensive in Switzerland despite this. However, despite the high cost of goods, it is a very good holiday destination - especially if you're after a spot of skiing. The Swiss Alps in the Southern side of the country are famous for their sublime snow and as a result draw skiers from all around the world. Again probably not the kind of holiday you are looking for if you're on a tight budget but if you've just received your Brucey bonus at work then I would highly recommend it.



Aside from the skiing, Switzerland has much more to offer. Zurich is one of the top tourist destinations of Switzerland, and is regularly classed as one of the best cities to live in in terms of quality of life - praise indeed. It is also the largest city in the country, but is not the capital, Bern takes this accolade but is more a political centre rather than a tourist hotspot. Zurich is definitely a city worth a visit, there is alot to do including a rich historical background. Switzerland is very seasonal so if you want warm weather go in June to September - temperatures average around 23-23 degrees celcius in July and August. In the winter temperatures plummit to zero - and colder if you are enjoying your skiing in the mountains.

Switzerland is definitely a country worth a visit and is probably one of the best holiday destinations in the world if you are into your skiing. Unfortunately it is not cheap but this is for a reason - it is a country that oozes sophistication and as a result I've heard Barclays are planning to go here for their next Christmas party.

Best Beach Holidays: Bahamas - a holiday paradise

The Bahamas - a name synonymous with fine white sand beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, non-stop sunshine and crystal clear turquoise waters. Indeed, the Bahamas are rightly regarded as one of the best holiday destinations in the world, certainly one of the top holiday destinations if you are after one of the characteristics listed above.

The Bahamas are located just North East of Cuba, east of Mexico. The Caribbean Sea is South West of the Bahamas. The Bahamas consist of an archipelago formed of 700 islands in the Atlantic Ocean - a good number of these have been heavily developed on to capitalise on the tourism boom. The capital is a city called Nassau, on the island called New Providence.


The Bahamas

The climate and surroundings are so good in the Bahamas that you will often see settings from the islands popping up on screensavers and posters relating to paradise - it is not hard to see why. A trip to the Bahamas can turn into a trip of a lifetime - certainly one of the best holiday destinations anywhere on the planet if you fancy abit of relaxation time lying on idyllic beaches soaking up a bit of sun.