Christmas Breaks Ideas - Top 3 Christmas Getaway Suggestions

It's holiday time. A season to enjoy. Why not try something different this year. Enjoy great Christmas breaks with family and friends and have loads of fun. Many of us prefer to celebrate Christmas at home to enjoy the festivities. But, for some this is the only period where they can plan a getaway with their extended family. As this is generally the only part of the year that most members of the family have vacation at the same time.

Here we have 3 top Christmas breaks suggestions.

Head to the sunny beaches of Phuket, Bali or Goa in India to celebrate a grand sunny Christmas. Or head to Hawaii or even the Caribbean islands which are much nearer home. A beach Christmas is good way to have a warm and sunny Christmas with the whole family. No need to worry about shoveling snow when you can enjoy the surf and the sand.

If you love a white Christmas and can't think of Christmas without snow then why not enjoy a skiing holiday with all members of your family. An active and fun way to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with a real log fire at the end of the day to warm and share the Christmas spirit. Colorado, Vermont, California have great skiing on offer. In Europe, the Swiss Alps, Austria, Denmark and France offer superb skiing destinations.

City breaks. Paris, Prague, London, Dublin, Rome and many other Europeans cities have lots to offer for family on vacation. Soak in the culture of these cities; visit the museums, art galleries, beautiful churches and much more. Enjoy great sightseeing too. Christmas day and Christmas Eve will usually be a holiday for most tourist places so, ensure some other activity or just enjoy the sights of the locals celebrating Christmas.

Top 6 Party Travel Destinations

I've been working in the travel industry for the past 6 years and have been traveling/partying pretty much all of my life. You can pretty much call me an expert on the subject. I have been all over the world and consider the following destinations/parties the wildest and best I have been a part of. 1). Carnival in Salvador, Bahia Brazil 2.) Summer in Ibiza 3.) New Years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 4.) Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain 5.) National Beauty Pageant Week in Cartagena, Colombia 6.) Summer in Mykonos, Greece

1. Carnival in Salvador, Bahia Brazil

Brazilians consider Salvador, Bahia as the best and most fun Carnival in the country. The Guinness Book of World Records considers Carnival in Salvador as the biggest street party in the world. Millions of people hit the streets and it's literally 5 days of chaotic fun. I've been traveling to Carnival in Salvador for the past 6 years. It's definitely the craziest party I have been to. Just imagine millions of people on the streets just going crazy with some of the hottest bands from Brazil playing in the background. It's also singles paradise as one of the main themes during Salvador is "Solteiro em Salvador" meaning everyone is single in Salvador. If you are looking to experience Brazil Carnival look into Carnival in Salvador, Bahia especially if you are looking for a Wild and Crazy time.

2. Summer in Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is the party capital of the world! It's the perfect combination of great weather, beautiful people, incredible beaches, and the hippest, most sophisticated nightlife in the world. If you love electronic/house music, it is definitely the can't miss destination of the summer as the best DJ's in the world make Ibiza their home from the End of May until the End of September - any other time most of the clubs in Ibiza are closed (Pacha is the only club open all year). I've been going to Ibiza for the past 4 years and you definitely have to go VIP and hit Pacha, Amnesia, Privilege & Space. Drinks are extremely expensive (about 10 - 20 euros per drink), but if you get VIP and do bottle service, you will have your own table and spend just about as much. Depending on the party, bottle service can be as low as 150 euros per person to 300. Clubs get extremely packed during the summer and at some parties you can barely move around. If you are traveling there, you might as well spend a little more and enjoy it, rather than feel like a sardine. I personally enjoy traveling to Ibiza in July (All major DJs are there and it's not as hectic as August) or September (Closing parties are incredible). August is the busiest time of the year and I try to avoid it as the hotels raise prices and the clubs are overly packed.

3. New Years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

New Years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of the most amazing cities in the world and one of my favorite travel destinations. Its annual New Year's Eve extravaganza puts all new year's celebrations to shame. Millions pack the city for an all-night festival of music, food, and fun, punctuated by spectacular fireworks. From mind-blowing scenery and incredible beaches to wild nightlife and beautiful people, Rio de Janeiro will make your New Years an unforgettable experience. The main attraction in Rio de Janeiro for New Years is watching the fireworks on Copacabana Beach. The fireworks are amazing, but I've actually had a better time going to the exclusive parties all over the city. The beach can get a little sketchy and it is fun don't get me wrong, but the best thing about Rio de Janeiro are the people (The Cariocas) and being at an exclusive party is the way to go because you don't have to worry about anything. All you have to worry about is having a great time and ringing in the new year. I definitely recommend making your travel plans early as the hotels and flights sell out by mid November.

4. Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain aka San Fermin Festival

The Running of the Bulls is held every year between July 6th and 17th. It is one of the world's craziest and wildest festivals where people run through the streets of the medieval city with actual live wild bulls! Every year over one million party-goers flock to Pamplona and party day and night drinking Sangria, eating delicious tapas and for the brave ones - run for their lives in front of angry bulls! The running of the bulls is an adrenaline rush, but it literally only lasts about 5 - 10 minutes and is at 8am every morning. What a lot of people do and what I recommend doing when running with the bulls is to party during the day, get some rest at night and then wake up early to run with the bulls. After you have run with the bulls, you can focus on partying. The pubs and streets are literally filled with people day and night.

5. National Beauty Pageant Week in Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena is the home of Colombia's National Beauty Pageant, one of the country's hottest events of the year. The most beautiful women from all over the country compete to be crowned Miss Colombia. The event is usually held the 2nd week in November. That week is absolutely nuts as the city erupts in Exclusive Parties, Parades, Beach Events, and the Best Nightlife in the country. My favorite event during this week is called "The Desfile de Balleneras". It takes place in the Bay of Cartagena as marines escort the Beauty Contestants in small boats throughout the bay. The only way to check out this parade is on boat. 100s of boats line up to check out the parade, but it's more about the party than the beauty contestants. People blast their music, have water balloon fights, move from boat to boat and party like it's 1999. Get the whole family together for your Florida Holidays by booking your 7-bed Orlando villa here.

6. Mykonos, Greece in the Summer

Mykonos is Greece's party island during the summer. If you want to party for 24 hours straight, you can do it in Mykonos - hit the beach parties during the day, head to Mykonos Town to watch the sunset, have dinner and party at night and if you want to keep on partying there are several options for after hour spots that open at 3:00AM and go through the morning/afternoon hours. As far as Mykonos partiers - celebrities, politicians, beautiful people and ordinary mortals all flock here to see and be seen at the glitzy "anything goes" clubs for which the island is world famous for. During the summer all the clubs/bars will be packed. Peak season to go to Mykonos is end of June through mid September.

All of the destinations/parties above are a One in A Lifetime Experience. If you want to have an incredible time, I recommend pre-booking everything in advance as these events sell out quickly. I also recommend going through an expert travel company for these events like Tours Gone Wild. They do trips like this year after year and have the connections to make sure you have a great time. All you literally have to do is call them, book your trip, show up and have a good time.

Aarhus, Denmark - Five Places to See for Free

If you are planning a visit to Aarhus, Denmark, and you want to have lots to see and do, then I have some wonderful suggestions about things to do that are free and will give you lots of interesting experiences for those of you who are more budget-minded. I love exploring Denmark, and Aarhus has a plethora of great places to see if you are willing to do a bit of walking.

Since Aarhus is a pretty compact city and most things are within walking distance, I wanted to give you some fun ideas for a day out which won't cost you a fortune and will also be fun. You may wish to pack a lunch and bring along some snacks and drinks if you do not have the budget for restaurants. However, you will miss out on some great food!

Starting out in downtown Aarhus near the train station, you will want to stop by the tourist office and pick up a free map of the city. To get to the tourist office, just walk out of the main entrance of the train station. As you come down the steps, turn left and walk to the first cross street. Directly across is the tourist office. Spend a few minutes orienting yourself to where you are on the map and then begin exploring!

1. You'll want to take a stroll down Stroeget, which is a long walking street that stretches from the train station to Skt. Clemens Kirke. It is lined with many great shops and boutiques, which are all free to visit and explore.

2. Skt Clemens Kirke is Denmark's largest church and stands at the of the Stroeget. If you can, go to the top of the tower and you'll get a great view of the city. (It's not always open due to construction.)

3. How about visiting a bank!? If that doesn't sound interesting, think again. The Nordea Bank at St Clemens Torv 6 sits atop an old Viking ruin. When it was being built, they turned the basement into a Viking Museum. You can visit the museum by going into the bank and heading downstairs. Free and unusual.

4. The Latin Quarter is an area of Aarhus which was built in the 14th and 15th centuries and is home to some great architecture based on Paris's left bank. This is a quaint and fun place to explore. To get the full benefit, you should explore places like Volden, Rykind, Snevringen, Badstuegade and Mejlgade.

5. Dyrehaven is the large forested park south of Aarhus. You can walk there from the city center by strolling along the harbour towards Tangkrogen and then going into Havreballe Skov and continuing south. The scenery here is awesome and sometimes you feel like you are in something from a Tolkien novel.

It is also possible to find one of the many city bikes scattered around town. These are free bicycles that you can use. Put 20 kroner into the slot by the chain, which will release the chain. You are now free to borrow the bike and ride around town. When you return the bike to one of the many stations, you re-insert the chain and it gives you back your 20 kroner.

Remember, if you do use a bike to go around town, it is illegal to ride on the Stroeget, sidewalks and most pedestrian areas. Stay on the bike paths or get off and walk your bike. Fines are 500 kroner for infractions, but as a tourist, you may just get yelled at by Danes and told off nicely by the police. It is not always easy to know where you can and cannot ride.

You can also get lots of guide books and suggestions at the tourist office, so do make a stop there before venturing out. They can give you lots of information on current events and happenings, which can add that extra bit of fun to your visit.

Marques de la Ensenada Valladolid


The Hotel Marqués de la Ensenada and Antonio de Ulloa restaurant, built on the rehabilitation of a former Flour Mill based in the South Branch of the Canal de Castilla, opened its doors offering for the first time in Spain in the themed concept hotel.

Located in Valladolid, near the parliament building of the Parliament of Castilla y León and the International Trade Fair, the Hotel Marqués de la Ensenada with five-star, is strategically located with direct access and fast Villanubla Airport, Field Station Grande, which saturates the high-speed train with a wide range of schedules, and the bus station in Valladolid.

The Hotel Marqués de la Ensenada, marked by strong cultural, arises from the careful restoration carried out on the flour mill "La Perla", built in 1841 on the South Branch of the Canal de Castilla, great work of engineering Spanish Enlightenment.

The property, which thematized in full in the eighteenth century, has an attractive offer for those who enjoy staying in different environments and exclusive. The Spanish Enlightenment and its most relevant shape to an offer consists of twenty-nine rooms, of which seven are suites, with decoration, fully differentiated, fits the character given name.

Now you have the opportunity to stay in a different facility and integrated into a historic and luxurious surroundings, which have been carefully all the details, including of course the inclusion of the latest information technologies and communication, present throughout the hotel and completely free.

The Hotel also has a magnificent function room, private rooms, cafeteria and library, exhibition hall, gymnasium with sauna and restaurant Antonio de Ulloa, with capacity for more than sixty people.

Hotel City Cancun


Junior City, the hotel brand cheapest hotels City, announces the opening of its new hotel in Cancun, the fifth of the mark in the country. City Junior, is the alternative in lodging for travelers who have a low budget or are just passing through the city. They offer comfortable and functional, clean and safe.

Junior Cancun City is located on Avenida Nichupté to one side of the shopping area, Plaza las Americas in downtown Cancun, 10 minutes from the hotel zone and 20 minutes from the airport. Has 104 comfortable modern rooms with air conditioning, color cable TV, complimentary continental buffet breakfast, parking and meeting room.

With an investment of approximately 40 million pesos, City Junior Cancun offers a cheap accommodation option in new and modern facility, with guaranteed service chain economic leader in the travel segment.

City Junior, created in 2007, presents a strong potential for growth in the country due to increased demand for accommodation in the budget segment. There are five hotels located in Tijuana, Mexicali, Chihuahua, Toluca and Cancun. Junior City plans for this year are encouraging their growth through franchising model, plus three new openings: Guadalajara, Ciudad Juárez and Merida.

Hotels costs uprise because aero shockdown


The analysis used by the comparator Trivago hotels accommodation price has risen considerably over the capitals with major airports during the six days of airspace collapse of the eruption of Eyjafjall. The large number of passengers held in these large cities unable to fly has been the main cause.

Despite major losses announced by several organizations of hotel and tourism sector in recent days the price of hotels in major European capitals has increased more than significant. If the average price offered in April for Madrid hotels was 113 euros per night in double room these days has gone to 169 €, almost 50% higher.

Barcelona has also seen a similar situation, although in this case the increase was only 14%. Overnight in Barcelona these days cost 165 euros on average, compared to 144 before the eruption.

The pattern is repeated in other major European capitals, especially those whose airports have been completely closed. Paris for example, achieves an increase of 29% and 44% Munich. Berlin, usually one of the economic capitals of the continent increased its rates by 67% hotels.

The capital has recorded the highest average price for a double room was London, with an average of € 237 and an increase of 52%. Milan however has been who has the highest percentage increase. The city, which also played Champion semi-final between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona, has nearly doubled its price has risen from 119 euros to 231 euros on average. This represents a 94% on dates prior to collapse.

The rise in Amsterdam was 28%, while Dublin and Rome have been a more moderate increase of 14% and 16% respectively.