Resort Guides

Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is a thriving desert city which is a fantastic holiday destination. With amazing shopping, high end luxury resorts, water parks and festivals and excellent amenities, there is something on offer every hour of the day.  One of the great things about Dubai is the fact that visitors can enjoy a wide range of thrilling activities and outdoor sports.There are some super cheap flights to be had just now, so pack a hat, your favourite sun screen and be prepared to be amazed by this astonishing city.  Sand Sea and Watersports Dubai is home to some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in the world. The ocean temperatures are warm and inviting, and there are even a few waves. The ocean can be a great place to go swimming, but be warned that it is quite salty! Take a beach walk in the evening when its a little cooler, and you'll see many people rollerblading along the seafront promenade.  Dubai is a popular locatio

Top Gear, the BBC entertainment driving programme, recently did a price comparison between driving your car at a ‘track day’ and taking up golf.  After the usual high jinks that make the programme so popular around the world, Jeremy Clarkson and his side-kicks claimed that golf was extremely expensive and should really only be taken up by boring old men.  I beg to differ on a number of fronts. Firstly, setting yourself up with all the golf gear is not that expensive.  There are hundreds of sites that offer great discounts on new and second-hand equipment that can help you get started.  Plus, if you’ve never swung a club there some equally good deals when it comes to getting some lessons to set you on your way to golfing greatness. But once you have caught the bug (and you will catch once you start) you want to spread your wings and play golf in other places that are slightly more beautiful than the local public course; and that, in fairness, is where things can start to ge

For those who regularly travel on business to New York then flying on Virgin Atlantic is highly recommended to experience Virgin’s new and improved JFK Clubhouse explaines guest contributor Simon Colley who writes on behalf of CT Business Travel , an award winning service driven UK travel management company. However, the JFK Clubhouse is not available to everyone flying Virgin, you need to be travelling in Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class or be a Flying Club Gold member to indulge in and enjoy all the benefits of Virgin Atlantic’s red carpet treatment. Virgin Atlantic’s new clubhouse is more than double the size of its previous JFK airport lounge, at 10,000 square feet there’s plenty of space for passenger’s to relax and unwind before their flight. No expense has been spared with the new Clubhouse re-build costing an eye watering $7 million, but then we are talking about travelling in the most stylish and luxurious way that Virgin Atlantic know only too well how to excel at. As

Malaga is the biggest city on the Costa del Sol, a region which attracts millions of visitors each year due to its excellent weather and great beaches. For many Malaga is merely the airport for holidays to the Costa Del Sol and holiday makers often fail to visit and explore the city. The city is not only a paradise for sunseekers. It has lots of cultural attractions to offer too. Malaga has been occupied for millennia and has been an important centre for everyone from the Phoenicians to the Romans to the Moors. After the Moorish invasion in 711 AD, it was a major port in that empire and though it is centuries since the Moors lost out to the Christians, signs of this heritage can still be seen. The Alcazaba Public domain image/Delbarre Cedric/Wikimedia One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Alcazaba an 11th century Moorish castle and fort located in the centre of the city. It's the best preserved building of its type in Spain and is certainly worth the walk up

The Charles Bridge which crosses the Vltava River in Prague, connects the Old Town to Mala Strana (the Lesser Town) and Prague Castle, and is undoubtedly one of the most popular attractions of the city. It is a magnificent 10 metre wide stone bridge, from which you can see a magical and magnificent skyline including the Mighty Prague Castle in all its eminence, when walking in from the Old Town side. It is the perfect setting for a romantic walk, but for that you need to catch the bridge either early morning or late evening as during the day can get very busy, bustling with traders, tourists and musicians. The sunrise and sunset is absolutely incredible, shimmering off the smoothly worn stone surface of the bridge, making it a resplendent glow. Legend has it that the bridge is magical, and if you were to throw a coin off the edge and make a wish, it would come true. The history of Charles Bridge  Until 1841 Charles Bridge was the only way to cross the River Vltava, which made P

Spain continues to enthrall visitors from the UK for a second year in a row, with the trend set to continue well into 2012. According to the statistics from the recent World Travel Market event organised in London, there has been a 9 per cent increase in the number of tourists who visited Spain during the first nine months of 2011. Booking details from several Spanish tour operators at the event also reveal that Spain is still the preferred holiday destination for an increasing number of Britons, with a special focus being on the Balearics (comprising Ibiza, Minorca and Majorca), which played host to nearly 24 per cent of 11 million visitors from UK who had travelled to Spain between January and September last year. Tragedies Early in the Holiday Season Several travellers from Britain frequent various tourist destinations in Spain despite tragedies that form an inevitable part of the holiday season each year. An oversupply of alcohol coupled with fantastic balcony views seems

There is so much to see in Wales that you need to give yourself as much time to take in as many of the sights as possible during your trip. You'll need to plan your family holiday carefully in order to see all you can, so here are just five suggestions for great days out. Anglesey Sea Zoo The zoo was started in 1995 when a stranded dolphin appeared on the island's coast. It was happily rescued and housed and the theme in the zoo has been one of conservation ever since. There are planned and approved captive-breeding programmes and this is one of the few places in the world where short-snouted seahorses have been successfully bred and sustained. Elsewhere you can see impressive conger eels, a shark pool and the Lobster Hatchery of Wales can be found here. Don't forget to visit the puffins while you're on the island. Caernarfon Castle There has been a castle here in Caernarfon since the late 13th century but that original motte and bailey construction is dwarfed by

Luxury hotels represent an ideal way to spend a romantic weekend or week, and can be worth the extra cost if you want to create a more memorable holiday in a memorable destination. The best luxury hotels combine a great location with outstanding facilities and services, and should always be thoroughly researched before making a decision on which one to choose. In the same way, it is important to think about whether you want a particular type of luxury hotel, from somewhere secluded to a site located in an ideal place within a large city or resort. The following five hotels represent some ideas for places to consider staying in 2012: Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa - Prague Located near to the Old Town in Prague, the Alchymist has a long held reputation for classic European quality. The 5 star hotel is tailored to suit romantic holidays, while also featuring a spa within its Baroque buildings. The hotel is ideal for a couple who want to enjoy Prague without sacrificing on hotel qual

The Google Car, Image Source: Nevada DMV Google has just received the go ahead from the Department of Motor Vehicles in Nevada to test driverless cars in the city of Las Vegas. Although this will be a fully functioning driverless vehicle, it will still require at least two people to be in the car at any one time. The car will operate by using range finder lasers, video cameras, radar sensors, and Google maps data to guide itself autonomously around the streets. It can ‘see’ the obstacles around it, whether they be human, vehicle, or stationary objects, and can steer itself around the streets to avoid these obstacles. If something were to go wrong, then the passengers have the ability to take control through the brakes or steering wheel. What the Car Sees, Image Source: Nevada DMV According to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles press release the new self-driving cars will be fitted with a red number plate displaying the infinity symbol to distinguish them from normal vehicles.

Marrakech, Morocco is truly a wonder of the world. It was an imperial capital for much of its ancient history, ruled by sultans and kings from the 11th century onward. The architects designed truly wondrous structures that defied all logic: great gardens in the midst of a desert, enormous towers that stood the test of time while dynasties rose and fell around them. For visitors to this North African country, there are a few sites that simply can't be missed. Never mind two hundred years of American history; in this land, centuries are mere blinks of an eye. The Koutoubia Mosque towers over Marrakech, visible for miles in every direction. It was originally built in the 12th century, and its name derives from the Arabic word for 'bookseller', since the area surrounding it was once a lively manuscript market. The tall minaret, or tower, reaches 221 feet into the air, sitting on top of six rooms and adorned with copper globes. The structure is actually the second mosque

Newly married couples looking for the perfect romantic spot to honeymoon should consider India. Unmatched beauty with serene landscapes and plentiful activities, India is the perfect location for an unforgettable honeymoon.  Goa  Goa offers some of the world's most beautiful beaches. The honeymoon couple who adores water sports will appreciate Goa. A couple who spends the day participating in the many water sports will be able to spend their evenings enjoying the casinos and fabulous restaurants. Couples look ing for a more secluded honeymoon destination have the opportunity to visit some less populated beachfront areas such as Varca and Bogmalo.  Goa also offers nature lovers at the chance to visit the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. Couples are able to spend time wandering through the Anjuna Beach Flea Market or visiting the area's beautiful churches. Kerala Kerala is a relatively unspoiled area of India that few o

Whether you’ve been everywhere already or you just want to avoid the crowds of the most popular holiday destinations, these up and coming vacation places suggested by the travel team at Directline Holidays could be ideal for you. Each of these vacation spots is fun, beautiful and best of all, not yet overrun by hordes of tourists. You get to go there first! Croatia Formerly known as a war stricken country, Croatia is past that and moving on to be a beautiful and peaceful nation. Croatia features pretty much anything a vacationer would want in a destination. From sandy beaches, beautiful cities and architecture, warm weather to good food and a rich culture, Croatia has it all. The country also caters to almost every budget. You can live up the high life or do something a little more modest. The food is very traditional and is very different by region. If you’re a food connoisseur, you will enjoy Croatia just for the cuisine. Cambodi Cambodia is a great destination that is a

Holiday season is fast approaching and it's time to start planning your next trip. If you're traveling abroad but are at a loss for where to go, these 4 exotic destinations are perennial list toppers for the well-traveled and daydreamers alike. Greenland Switching things up a bit, if you're planning a trip during the summer and live in a region where the temperature often tops the century mark, consider a cooler destination for a change. For travelers willing to weather temperatures that reach just above the freezing point in the summer months, Greenland offers a wide range of opportunities to have fun. One of the most famous attractions is the scientific marvel, the Northern Lights. Also worth considering is a by-land or by-sea tour of the wildlife, from the majestic whales of Greenland's coast to the muskoxen that date back to the last ice age. Visitors can even explore the ocean life and discover species of fish and plant life native to the region,