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.

Non EU Holiday Destinations: Istanbul, Turkey

I've already previously mentioned Turkey as a top non EU holiday destination, but I would not be doing justice to this great country if I did not talk about it in a bit more detail. Istanbul is definitely one of the hottest locations in Turkey, it has a cosmopolitan atmosphere but at the same time remains relaxing and therefore you do feel like you are on holiday.

Romantic Holiday Destinations

Valentines Day is rapidly approaching, you still havn't booked a restaurant and the presents you ordered off Amazon still havn't come yet...looks like the doghouse for you son. But wait....perhaps the promise of a nice romantic holiday would solve all your problems and earn you plenty of brownie points. But where to take her? There are just too many romantic holiday destinations to choose from, the last thing you want is to end up back in the doghouse after she finds out you've taken her to Grimsby.

So what are the most romatic holiday destinations? Below are a few suggestions of places to take your loved one for a romantic break.

Paris - the ultimate city of romance. If the beatiful river, the stunning architecture, the delightful food and top-notch wine don't bring out the love in you, then a trip up the Eiffel Tower probably won't either- you might as well go to Grimsby after all.

Rome - Italy has a certain charm to it that is certain to appeal to a couple in love. The cafes and restaurants shout out romance. One tip - don't go in August - the heat could cause you're partners make-up to run. Avoid such disasters by sticking to slightly cooler summer months.

Morocco - there's something incredibly exotic and mysterious about Morocco that gives it alot of appeal as a romantic holiday destination. Casablanca and Marrakesh are good places to visit - the sounds and smells of these cities should have you in each others arms.

Bali, Thailand - this beautiful coastal resort could easily be the backdrop for any romantic movie. Aside from the idyllic beaches, there are a host of other activities to partake in as a couple, like snorkeling, skuba diving and kayaking. Thailand's tropical climate only helps cement its appeal as a romantic destination.

Bahamas - another classic romantic destination. Nothing but white sands, blue seas and warming sunshine to distract you from your other half - pure relaxation. Take your pick from the 700 islands.

These are just a few of the best holiday destinations for romance that you could go to as a couple - just do some research before you go to ensure your romantic trip doesn't end in a disaster.

Best Beach Holidays - Fernando de Noronha

Beach holidays are by far the most popular type of holidays - the words 'beach' and 'holiday' go hand in hand. The trouble is, there are so many destinations to choose from so deciding where to go is tricky.

Fernando de Noronha, off the coast of Brazil, is regarded as one of the top beach destinations. The fact it is not well known and barely spoken about adds an air of mystery to the location. It is an archipelago comprising of one large, 11 square mile volcanic island, as well as 20 smaller ones. The main island is reachable by plane from inland, and is definitely worth the effort. As your plane descends from the sky, you can see the beautiful turquoise sea and golden beaches and you just know this is somewhere very special.


Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Scuba diving and snorkeling are two must-do activities here, as well as the sun bathing obviously. The range of aquatic life is spectacular - there are more species of animal here than you can shake a stick at. The dolphins are also a highlight of the islands - the 'spinner' species present here can be regularly spotted leaping from the depths acrobatically.

A holiday here is probably out of the price range of the majority of tourists, but would be excellent as a romantic holiday destination or for in love honeymooners. The best time to go is between September to March, when the weather is best. Brazil's Fernando do Noronha is certainly a top beach holiday destination and a jewel in Brazil's crown.