Posts Tagged ‘shopping’
Our Top Picks for Spring
As winter turns to spring it’s a great time to get a trip in, shake off the long dark nights and explore a destination full of new life. Have a look at the guide below to some of our recommended destinations:
I know, it’s maybe a bit obvious, but it just can’t be overlooked. The grounds of Keukenhof Castle, around 90 minutes from central Amsterdam, have been welcoming and wowing guests with its display of over 7 tulips for over 75 years. We recommend you pre-book a trip, including transport to the gardens, as you can skip the line when you arrive giving you more time to explore the gardens at your own pace. You can find a little more information on other side trips from Amsterdam by clicking HERE.
The summer months in Malta are hot and sunny and long days at the beach and pool are all too easy to fall into. And those days are glorious! A trip to Malta in the spring months, with warm weather and less tourists, will allow you to mix things up a little. While some time in the sunshine is always welcome, digging into the history of these small islands, dating back over 7,000 years, is a fascinating way to make the most of your trip. From the Silent City of Medina to the ancient walled city of Valletta, St John’s Co-Cathedral to the Mosta Rotunda the biggest problem you’ll have is fitting it all in! The public transport system across the island is inexpensive and regular – hop on board and see where it takes you.
Another destination steeped in history and another one that will offer a sunny trip in springtime without the crowds. The Acropolis, as the name suggests, sits up on a hill and in the summer, we suggest getting there early to avoid the hottest parts of the day. In springtime the heat is less of an issue allowing you more time to explore the archaeological delights, and they need more than just one day to really make the most of the visit.
While the winter is high season in Reykjavik, longer days will find the city spring back to outside life and a visit in March or April will allow for new adventures. Northern Lights trips are possible right up until the middle of April, the warmer weather brings the Humpback whales back to the Icelandic waters (generally from April onwards) and the Golden Circle and glacier tours will benefit from the longer slightly warmer days too.
I could go on – looking at the cities that we offer there isn’t an option I wouldn’t recommend travelling to in the spring months. The light is different and that change of season makes people smile.
Call us on 0131 243 8098 to chat over your preferred destination and get booked up!
Michael’s 48 Hours in Berlin
My last trip to Berlin was almost 20 years ago as part of a corporate group for the 2006 World Cup, so I’d been looking for an excuse to go back and explore the city on my own terms and in particular, the history of Berlin leading up to and including the Second World War, the subsequent Cold War and the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall. The tourist trail in Berlin is heavily focused on these three things, with constant reminders around the city of the pivotal role Berlin played in world events at various points throughout the last century.
Getting There
Travelling from a UK airport to Berlin is simple. Our short, 2-night stay meant we only needed a carry-on bag, so no bag drops on departure and no wait for luggage on arrival. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport is a modern marvel, run with friendly efficiency, getting passengers through the airport as quickly and as smoothly as possible.
To get into the City Centre, you can take the Airport Express train, leaving every 30 minutes for Berlin Central Station, a regional train, or a taxi, all of which take around 35 minutes. After a quick taxi ride to our hotel and dropping our bags, we headed to Berlin’s best-known and prettiest street, Unter der Linden, both to get our bearings and to see the Brandenberg Gate, Berlin’s most photographed landmark. It’s also close to the 5-Star Adlon Hotel, scene of Michael Jackson’s infamous baby-dangling-off-balcony episode. We headed for a quick bite to eat, then back to the hotel to prepare for what would be two busy and thought-provoking days.
Read the rest of this entry »
Gareth Goes to Paris!
Gareth, our Sales Manager, visited Paris where he stayed at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris – just a few minutes from the Arc du Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Here’s a quick update on his trip:
Read the rest of this entry »
Karen in The Côte d’Azur!
The Côte d’Azur is somewhere I return to year after year and still find new places to explore each time. For me it’s the perfect blend of beach, city and culture – with the bonus of delicious French food and wine! What makes it even more appealing is their seamless public transport with trains and buses that are user friendly and reliable: No car required. If you’re going for 3 or more days then a Sud Azur Explore pass is a good investment if you want to do some excursions. It’s available from the tram ticket machines at Nice Airport and 3 days currently costs only €35 per person for unlimited travel on trains, trams and buses within the region, including Monaco.
Read the rest of this entry »
FREE Lisbon Walking Tour with Every Lisbon Booking
Our Short Break Specialist Nicki had a fantastic time on her FAM trip to Lisbon. To read more about her visit, head to our blog and find out what she got up to! In celebration of this amazing city, we are offering a FREE Best of Lisbon Guided Walking Tour for every booking made in August and September.
Read the rest of this entry »
Valerie: Seville in 72 Hours
Day One
After a smooth Ryanair flight direct from Edinburgh, we took the bus located outside the airport terminal to the centre of Seville which took half an hour, this is an easy transfer costing 4 Euros per person. We checked in at our 4-star hotel, the Fernando III, freshened up and went to the highly rated tapas bar, La Bartola opposite the hotel for lunch. Read the rest of this entry »
Our Lisbon & Porto Twin Centre Adventure
Lisa and Lawrence feeling on top of the World at The Santa Just Elevator, Lisbon, Portugal
Day 1 – Lisbon
Ola from Lisa and Lawrence in Portugal! We arrived and it was just such beautiful sunny day in Lisbon! Read the rest of this entry »
Cracking Krakow!
Christmas Markets, Main Square, Krakow, Poland
After arriving into Krakow it was great to have our transfer driver waiting for us ready to whisk us off to the hotel. After check-in we decided to have a quick wander round to get our bearings and check out the Christmas Markets Read the rest of this entry »
Our Ladies in Prague!
Diane & Irene in Prague
After a speedy transfer from Prague Airport we dropped off our bags at the K&K Hotel Central, our base for our two nights in Prague. First stop was lunch, we stumbled upon a market in Republic Square just minutes from the hotel, we each a had delicious hot pulled pork baguette from a street food stall. There are lots of interesting food stalls dotted all around the city with their tempting warm steamy aroma. Read the rest of this entry »
Eating their way through Copenhagen!
Sarah & Nathalie in Väkst Restaurant
Nathalie our Product Manager and Sarah our Marketing Manager were the lucky two that managed to escape to Copenhagen for a couple of nights to sample the food, drink, hotels and just about everything Scandic! Find out what they got up to during their trip last week. Read the rest of this entry »
